Elm Analytics - Automotive Supply Chain Risk Digest #110 - March 15 - 21, 2019

Mar 22, 2019

CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT

Ford has named ex-Amazon finance exec Tim Stone as its new CFO. Stone will start on June 1 and succeeds longtime Ford CFO, Bob Shanks.

HUMAN CAPITAL

As part of its restructuring plan first announced in January, Ford is cutting 5,000 jobs in Germany. The automaker will also cut jobs in the UK, but the total number is "still to be determined.".

INDUSTRY DIRECTIONS

Starting in the early 2020s, Volvo is planning to install cameras and sensors in its cars that will intervene to prevent accidents if a driver is detected as being drunk or distracted.

LITIGATION

U.S. prosecutors have charged former UAW VP Norwood Jewell as part of the UAW-FCA Training Center scandal where union officials misused funds. Jewell is the highest-ranking former official to be charged in the investigation so far.

The family of a woman who was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber in Tempe, Arizona last year is suing the state and the city for unspecified damages. They allege that the state and city failed to make roadways safe and allowed self-driving cars to operate unsafely.

Tesla is suing multiple former employees and self-driving startup Zoox for allegedly stealing their trade secrets. The suit alleges that employees took proprietary information and code to help their new employers.

MERGERS, VENTURES, ACQUISITIONS

Volkswagen is teaming with Swedish battery maker Northvolt and other companies to form a consortium for battery cell R&D in Europe.

Nissan is rolling back joint venture forecasts with China's Dongfeng.

PLANT CLOSING

At a speech in Lima, Ohio this week, President Trump criticized the UAW and GM over the closure of GM's plant in Lordstown, Ohio. He said that the UAW needs to lower its membership dues and that GM needs to sell the plant "...or open it yourselves. Get it going now.".

DISASTER

Grande America, an Italian container ship, sank with a cargo of 2,000 vehicles. The vessel ran aground in the Atlantic off the coast of France. The boat was carrying Audi and Porsche vehicles including 37 model 911 GT2 RS, each valued at $300k.

PLANT EXPANSION

After a week of scrutiny from President Trump, analysts expect GM to announce an EV investment at its Orion Plant.

GM will invest $2.65b into two of its Brazilian plants to build "several new products" and support 15,000 jobs over the next five years. The investment will be carried out at the automaker's plants in Sao Caetano do Sul and Sao Jose dos Campos.

GM has added two new lines to its Toledo Transmission Plant. The lines are producing 9-speed and 10-speed transmissions for the Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse.

PLANT SHUTDOWN

Aluminum producer Norsk Hydro has been hit by a ransomware attack, disrupting much of its operations. The ransomware has reportedly disabled a key part of the company's smelting operations and has forced the company to switch to manual operations at several plants.

REGULATION

Center for Automotive Research: Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Regulation in the United States: Change is Coming Part I

Automotive News Europe: How U.S. tariffs could benefit German brands

Mexico has reached a new agreement with Brazil for the free trade of light vehicles, subject to a 40% regional content requirement. The new deal went into effect this week.