Automotive Logistics Forum: "Innovative ways and solutions in logistics central to successful transformation"

The 10th Automobile Logistics Forum was opened in Friedrichshafen under the motto "Clear to cloudy – Clouds & Co. for transparency and resilience". The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and the German Logistics Association (BVL) will bring the trendsetters from logistics, supply chain management and automobile production to the stage over the next two days. More than 40 speakers from OEMs, suppliers, logistics service providers, consulting firms and research will share experiences, information and background information, assessments and forecasts. Venue is Messe Friedrichshafen.

VDA President Hildegard Müller explained: "The past two years have demanded a lot from all of us, especially from logistics. Supply chains and their importance have rarely been this present in the public discussion. Logistics, production and aftermarket have learned and implemented a lot during the crises. In an international comparison, this expertise and the good organization and networking via the VDA have helped the German automotive industry to master the challenges better than others. We must continue to lead this success story and to offer the best concepts, processes and products in the future. Innovative ways and solutions in logistics are central to successful transformation."

BVL CEO Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Wimmer made it clear: "Automotive logistics is one of the areas that has been hit the hardest by the war and supply chain problems. With today's experiences, the supply chains must now be made more resilient. This can only be achieved through digitization, transparency and collaboration. Besides this, OEMs and suppliers must also ensure to become climate-neutral in the foreseeable future. The automotive logistics forum offers the perfect place today and tomorrow to discuss exactly these topics in a personal exchange and to get a new momentum."

"In the current highly volatile environment, digitized and resilient supply chains are in focus like never before to shape the future. The automotive logistics forum offers us practical approaches to action and discussion," says Wilhelm Rehm. As a member of the ZF Board of Management, he is responsible not only for materials management but also for the Group’s commercial vehicle business and industrial technology.

"The industry will continue to learn from the current situation and will have to further diversify supply chains, review risks and revise strategies. Now is the time when all actors – companies, politics, social partners, society, science – have to make their contribution and set the course for a future after the turning point," says Müller.

The political framework conditions are decisive for further successful change. Müller: "The companies in the automotive industry drive the transformation forward every day with commitment, creativity and high investments. To do this, they finally need noticeable acceleration in planning in all sectors. A realistic inventory of current developments in the build-up and expansion of renewable energies and digital infrastructure is urgently needed. Germany needs internationally competitive framework conditions for energy costs, taxes, levies and apportionments. Germany as a business location needs far-reaching reforms in order to catch up in international competition and to set standards again. More courageous strategic decisions are needed: In order to secure the supply of sustainable energy for the future, Germany must enter into international energy partnerships. Here the markets are allocated without our participation – politicians can't afford to hesitate. It's about the future of our industrial location. A future that must be secured through more committed trade, raw materials and energy foreign policy. More determination, progress, speed and investment are required here in order to actually achieve the ambitious goals as quickly as possible."
For more information see www.forum-automobillogistik.de
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BVL: The German Logistics Association (Bundesvereinigung Logistik e. V., BVL), founded in 1978, is a non-profit, neutral and predominantly voluntary organization. As a platform for managers of logistics in industry, trade and services, for scientists and students, with around 10,000 members today, it forms a bridge between business and science and is a platform for the national and international exchange of ideas between managers from logistics and supply chain management. For more information see www.bvl.de

VDA: The Association of the Automotive Industry (Verband der Automobilindustrie e. V., VDA) fosters electromobility, modern drives, the implementation of climate targets, digitization, modern mobility and technology, German engineering and the more than two million jobs that depend on the automotive industry and from which families and regions live. The entire German automotive industry is gathered under