Volvo Trucks leads the European heavy vehicle market
Volvo Trucks has announced that, for the first time, it has reached the top of the European heavy truck market with a 17.9% share in 2024. The company registered 56,331 trucks in the region, with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, and Spain among its key markets. "We are very proud to be the market leader in Europe," said Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, highlighting the value of the company's vehicles in terms of efficiency, safety, and reliability.
Continental cuts 3,000 jobs in the automotive sector to reduce costs
Continental has announced the reduction of approximately 3,000 jobs in its automotive research and development division, equating to 10% of its workforce in this sector. The measure, to be completed by the end of 2026, will affect fewer than half of the jobs in Germany. The company is preparing to spin off its automotive division, which produces braking and automated driving systems and accounts for about half of the group's revenue. The sector has been hit by declining sales, prompting other German suppliers, such as Schaeffler and Bosch, to also cut staff. Continental aims to limit layoffs by relying on voluntary resignations and internal retraining.
Farewell to Wolfgang Seuthe, pioneer of German port logistics
Wolfgang Seuthe, a key figure in the development of container transport in Germany, passed away on 13 February 2025 at the age of 94. He played a major role in the expansion of the Eurokai terminal in the 1970s and later contributed to the containerisation of German ports. In the mid-1980s, he joined Kuehne+Nagel, managing branches in the Port of Hamburg until his retirement in 1995. He later worked as a logistics consultant and remained active in key institutions such as BVL and Logistik-Initiative Hamburg, which named him an honorary member in 2020.
Transnet strengthens Cape Town terminal to tackle adverse weather
South African state-owned logistics company Transnet has enhanced operations at Cape Town's container terminal to mitigate the effects of strong winds, which have disrupted fruit exports during peak season. Over the past fortnight, gusts of up to 120 km/h have halted operations for over 200 hours, leaving twelve vessels waiting. Transnet has increased the number of cranes and workers to clear the backlog, recalling staff from leave and cancelling internal meetings. The terminal, ranked last in the World Bank’s 2023 Container Port Performance Index, is crucial for fruit exports from November to March. Transnet is continuing its modernisation plan to improve efficiency and reduce economic losses linked to port delays.
Agreement between Dymation and Brv for logistics automation
Dymation, a business unit of Cls, and Brv, a company specialising in components for heating and hydronic systems, have signed an agreement to introduce Agilox autonomous guided vehicles in the warehouses of the Valduggia (VC) facility. The integration of autonomous mobile robots aims to improve productivity and safety by reducing manual intervention in logistics operations. The intelligent vehicles operate autonomously and integrate with company digital systems, optimising workflow. With around 65 employees and an annual turnover of 30 million euros, Brv demonstrates that even SMEs can adopt industrial automation solutions to remain competitive in the global market.
Schenker expands urban logistics in Paris
Schenker France, through its subsidiary Les Triporteurs Français, has inaugurated its first Espace de Livraisons de Proximité in Paris, in the 18th arrondissement. The facility, operational since 14 February, uses cargo bikes and electric vehicles to ensure low-carbon deliveries. The ELP is located in a former Drouot auction house and covers 1,200 square metres, with over 60% of the area dedicated to cross-docking and storage operations. The fleet currently includes eight cargo bikes and one electric vehicle, with a target of 300 daily deliveries to ensure the project's economic viability. A second ELP is set to open in the 13th arrondissement by summer, at the Segro logistics hotel in Gobelins. Schenker aims to establish four logistics hubs in Paris by 2026 and expand into other cities such as Lyon and Toulouse.
Vietnam approves new railway to China
The Vietnamese parliament has approved the construction of a new railway linking the port of Haiphong to Lao Cai, on the Chinese border, passing through Hanoi. The project, valued at approximately eight billion euros, is expected to be completed by 2030. The nearly 400 km line will benefit Vietnam's manufacturing sector, particularly electronics, with companies like Samsung and Foxconn relying on Chinese components. China is likely to be the main financier of the project. Rail freight volumes between the two countries are experiencing strong growth: in January 2025, rail cargo traffic increased by 760% compared to the previous year.
