2026 AGENDA

Experts will discuss global and North American logistics capacity and requirements, digitalisation and the strategic assets needed for automotive manufacturers and partners to meet performance and cost requirements.

As global logistics and automotive supply chains face geopolitical, trade and market disruption, this session will explore the state of capacity for supply chains and logistics, and how manufacturers, suppliers and logistics providers are adapting supply chain strategies and logistics requirements for model launches and new vehicle technology, including hybrids, EVs and software-defined vehicles.

Key talking points will include: 

• Gearing up supply chains and logistics in the current environment, including strategies to best manage logistics, supplier, driver and freight capacity
• Insight into optimisation opportunities and logistics requirements for ramping up production of new technologies, including EVs and software-defined vehicles
• Insight into global and North American logistics capacity developments across ocean, air and road freight capacity relevant for automotive supply chains
• How manufacturers and logistics providers are adapting to changing trade lanes, new partnerships and localisation 
• Opportunities in digitalisation, AI and logistics automation 
• Service and network innovations to improve delivery performance, from consolidating freight to changing packaging and returnable container models

In this session, learn about the strategies and visibility needed to maintain a balanced network and ensure customer satisfaction in a competitive market. 

Hear how OEMs, vehicle logistics experts and technology partners are adapting vehicle logistics network strategy, including capacity management, process optimisation and digitalisation.

Key talking points include:

• Moving beyond cost-per-unit metrics toward holistic network performance
• Strengthening partnerships to increase capacity and yard utilisation
• Adapting network design to shifting demand, sales channels and lead times
• Solutions to address capacity and driver issues across road, rail and ports 
• Digitalisation and visibility opportunities across vehicle logistics 
• Strategies to mitigate and reduce theft and other risks across the network

Explore how OEMs and aftersales logistics specialists are evolving service parts networks through:

• Optimising inventory across multi-echelon distribution networks
• Improving fill rates and delivery performance
• Designing efficient distribution centre and transport strategies
• Leveraging data to improve forecasting and replenishment

Leaders will discuss insights into driving logistics flexibility, working with different logistics and forwarding partners, adapting to specialised transport and warehousing requirements, and opportunities to improve planning and execution. 

Gain insights into how automotive manufacturers are working with 3PLs and freight forwarding partners to adapt logistics speed, quality and capacity at the right cost and service.

You will also learn about how growing volumes in new supply chain and industry segments, like data centres, are impacting requirements logistics and warehousing, specialised transport and equipment:

• How manufacturers and providers are pivoting across transport modes and networks globally and in North America
• Leveraging data and AI to target and optimise logistics capacity
• Network engineering and optimisation
• Cost and performance implications across non-asset and asset-light partnerships
• Impacts on North American logistics from growth in data centre, energy storage and other segments

Hear how OEMs, carriers and technology partners are improving quality outcomes through:

• Preventing damage across rail, truck, port and yard operations
• Using digital tools to enhance inspections and claims processes
• Applying data analytics to identify root causes faster
• Working to align vehicle and equipment standards to help reduce damage and improve efficiency

Explore the real-world approaches automotive aftersales leaders are using to reshape parts and service operations to reflect customer needs even in the face of changing customer expectations, new opportunities in technology and AI, and logistics capacity challenges, including:

• Enhancing visibility and access to data across the supply chain on customer, supply and logistics through improved asset tracking, digital tools and planning systems from supplier plants, through parts distribution centres, crossdocks and dealers  
• Recalibrating transport modes and network design to balance speed and availability with cost, reliability and fill rates
• Optimising regional warehousing footprints to reduce lead times, unnecessary movements and damage  
• Transforming working culture and fostering cross‑functional collaboration between supply chain, IT and dealer stakeholders to ensure digitalisation and AI keep customer needs in mind and achieve common objectives

Hear from OEMs, suppliers and logistics partners on improving end-to-end synchronisation, including:

• Enhancing visibility from order capture through to final delivery
• Connecting demand planning, production scheduling and logistics execution
• Moving from local optimisation to enterprise-wide decision-making
• Using shared data to anticipate disruption and respond faster

Trade and compliance complexity has significantly increased. But as manufacturers better understand, develop tools and standards to manage these, they can gain better visibility, establish streamlined practices and ultimate reshape supply chain and logistics design.

This session explores strategies for managing risk, ensuring compliance and building resilient cross-border operations.

Hear from policy experts and trade specialists on manufacturers and logistics providers must adapt to new trade realities, including:

• Managing tariffs, USMCA and customs complexity
• Strengthening compliance and cross-border capabilities
• Reconfiguring networks in response to trade shifts
• Balancing global efficiency with regional resilience

This session will explore how cross-functional collaboration is improving efficiency, reducing waste and helping to mitigate cost and complexity across freight networks, packaging and intralogistics. 

Driving logistics cost and performance improvements depends on holistic considerations across functions, and working collaboratively from design phases through to serial production.

In this session, experts will discuss strategies for end-to-end logistics management, from integrating parts design with packaging and material flows, to ensuring standardisation from supplier through to line-side delivery.

Discover how automotive manufacturers can shorten value chains and improve material flow, including through logistics and supplier network design, packaging engineering, plant logistics and production control. 

Discover how OEMs and providers are integrating logistics across inbound, packaging and plant operations, including:

• Strategies for end-to-end logistics integration, from supplier release through transport and line-side delivery
• Integrating packaging engineering into early product and logistics design
• Optimising logistics, material flow and parts handling in plants and warehouses
• Ensuring efficient returnable packaging and container management systems
• Logistics partnership models that best support end-to-end logistics

As digitalisation moves beyond dashboards to decision-making impact, understand how supply chain and technology leaders are enabling greater control through:

• Integrating planning, transport and execution data into unified platforms
• Building digital control towers for end-to-end visibility of materials, packaging and vehicles
• Breaking down siloes across OEMs, suppliers and logistics providers
• Leveraging real-time, AI-driven digital twins to enable faster, scenario-based decision-making

As theft, trespassing, organised criminal activity, and facility disruptions continue to impact automotive logistics operations, the true cost often extends far beyond the value of stolen assets.

Bringing together experts in physical security and digital intelligence, the discussion will explore how physical solutions, market intelligence, real-time analytics, risk assessment and technology are enabling faster, more proactive decisions to strengthen resilience and protect throughput.

Leading security experts will explore:

• Current North American automotive cargo theft and facility intrusion trends, emerging risk indicators, and evolving criminal methodologies
• The hidden operational costs of disruption across inventory accuracy, freight flow, claims, insurance and customer satisfaction
• How to use market intelligence, real-time analytics and security software to identify theft hotspots, improve situational awareness and support proactive risk management
• Building resilience through layered physical security, process improvement, route planning, driver discipline, and technology-enabled prevention
• Security as a strategic contributor to supply chain performance, protecting assets, people, and operational continuity

Learn how to prioritise investments and integrate digitalisation into real-world supply chain operations.

Discover how manufacturers and logistics providers are digitally transforming their supply chain and logistics operations to benefit automotive operations and costs, but also to improve work for associates – and to deliver more value to customers.

Key talking points will include:

• Identifying the right use cases across parts logistics, packaging and logistics operations for the right systems and tools, from TMS/WMS to data analytics and AI, to automating key processes
• Ensuring that digitalisation, automation and AI are implemented with clear goals that benefit workers and customers, from reducing errors, increasing safety, accuracy and satisfaction 
• Having the right governance and data strategy to help build trust and engagement from associates and partners
• Innovations in technology including AMRs, drones and material handling systems
• Balancing ROI, scalability and operational flexibility in digital and physical automation
• Lessons learned from deployment across global networks