Transport a logistics

Logistics

JLR prepares for next stage of development

The appointments have been made in line with the next phase of its reimagine transformation. (Image source: JLR)

Jaguar Land Rover has announced new appointments to its executive leadership team as it aims to undergo the next phase of its development and transformation

The company has appointed Steve Marsh as the new executive director, vehicles programme. Reporting under the CEO Adrian Mardell, Marsh carries on from his previous position as director of global manufacturing operations at JLR, and brings a wealth of experience in the automotive industry having previously worked in the sector for 36 years.

“The transformation of JLR to a global modern luxury automotive manufacturer is well underway and delivering our next generation vehicles to the highest standard – across all touch points – is critical to our ongoing success,” remarked Marsh. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead JLR’s global Vehicle Programmes teams at this once-in-a-generation moment of powertrain and industrial change.”

Elsewhere, Swarna Ramanathan has been appointed chief strategy officer and will also report to Mardell. Ramanthan has been tasked with leading JLR’s strategy creation, innovation and strategic foresights, alliances & collaborations, and product & customer experience strategy teams. Similarly, Ramanathan has considerable experience and has 20 years’ growth strategy development and implementation experience, working across the automotive, consumer and energy sectors. With Ramanathan’s appointment, Andrea Debbane will continue in her role as chief sustainability officer, relinquishing her interim responsibilities for strategy, and reporting to JLR CEO, Adrian Mardell.

“As an experienced and passionate advocate for the automotive, consumer and energy sectors, and a long-term follower of JLR, I am thrilled to be appointed Chief Strategy Officer, JLR, at an important moment in JLR’s transformation to be a global modern luxury automotive leader,” Swarna Ramanathan. “I look forward to playing a leading role in the evolution of the business’s Reimagine strategy for continued success.”

A final noteworthy appointment is that of John Beswick to the role of chief transformation and performance officer. Beswick joins JLR from Great Ormand Street Hospital having previously spent two decades at BT Group in transformational change and finance leadership roles.

“I am delighted to be joining JLR as chief transformation and performance officer,” said Beswick. “Working alongside other members of the executive leadership team and colleagues across JLR, my priority will be to lead the implementation of JLR’s strategy throughout the organisation, through seamless team alignment and collaboration.”

Mardell commented, “The transformation of the automotive sector is the greatest change in our industry in a century. Ensuring we have the right leaders, with the qualities and experience to deliver our modern luxury vision in the near-, medium- and long-term will ensure JLR’s future health and prosperity. I offer my warmest congratulations to Steve, Swarna and John on their appointments.”

Nigeria and Cameroon border post upgrade to raise efficiency

A car going over the weidhbridge at the border crossing.

The project is part of the Nigeria-Cameroon Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme. (Image source: ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in collaboration with the African Development Bank, have sought to transform the border crossing at Ekok/Mufum between Cameroon and Nigeria

A modern joint border post has which was introduced in November 2022 has now been fully completed with an arsenal of modern upgrades to raise efficiency. The list of improvements now installed include a cargo scanner, baggage & walkthrough metal detectors, and weighbridge.

The security scanner will assist border officials – who have all now received training on the use of the equipment – by allowing them to more efficiently examine and screen cargos along the corridor. This will help to reduce the process time and enhance the security of all goods. Similarly, the weighbridge helps customs to check the gross weight of trucks and detect excessive loading of trucks. It is hoped that this will reduce road decoration, thereby saving future investment.

Recently, ECOWAS officially commenced the construction of a bridge over the Cavally River, helping to connect Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia. Click here to discover more.

Expanded responsibilities for Daimler Truck Middle East Africa

An image of the DT MEA employees posing for a picture together

Daimler Truck MEA operates two state-of-the-art warehouses and its advanced training centre underscores the commitment to developing regional talent and delivering unparalleled service. (Image source: DT MEA)

Daimler Truck Middle East Africa (DT MEA), a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has announced expanded responsibilities for 59 markets across the Middle East and Africa

“This strategic move positions us to strengthen our regional presence and ensure unparalleled service for our customers alongside our strong partners,” said Michael Dietz, CEO and president of Daimler Truck Middle East Africa. “We look forward to the opportunities this new chapter brings as we continue to grow across these diverse and important markets.”

The new broader regional role will see DT MEA move even closer to its partners and customers to ensure continued delivery of products and services across all markets. The new regional remit has also been described as a further commitment to delivering quality Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Buses and FUSO Trucks and Buses for its customers.

Nigeria’s Falcon Aerospace targets global expansion

$Falcon Aerospace offers of aviation services including private jet charter, aircraft maintenance, sales and fractional ownership. (Image source: Adobe Stock)$

Falcon Aerospace offers of aviation services including private jet charter, aircraft maintenance, sales and fractional ownership. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Falcon Aerospace, a Nigerian aviation firm, has set its eyes on the global market and is targeting rapid expansion in the coming years

As outlined on a release on Zawya, one of the most overt indications of this ambition is through the young company’s sponsoring of the Investing in Africa Conference, 7-9 October in London.

“Falcon Aero is committed to the vision of a prosperous Africa,” commented Chukwuerika Achum, CEO of Falcon Aerospace. “To actualise this vision, there must be seamless connectivity of people, ideas and culture with and within the continent, and we believe in the power of business aviation to facilitate this connectivity across borders.”

“Falcon Aero’s growth in the past two years has been phenomenal,” added chief operating officer, Tejumade Salami. “From the beginning, we set out to democratise business aviation services by improving accessibility and affordability without compromising luxury, efficiency and safety. Today, our operations continue to expand outside Nigeria. We are proud of our growth and are seeking investments and partnerships to fuel this expansion.”

An enhanced travel experience

The company offers of aviation services including private jet charter, aircraft maintenance, sales and fractional ownership. Moreover its portfolio comprises Vivajets, a private aviation services provider; Charterxe, a digital booking platform; and FlyPJX, a charter per seat platform.

Basil Agbor, head of products and innovation, said, “Innovation and technology have been critical factors in our success story. We are building products that integrate digital technology with tailored service delivery to improve booking and travel experience.”

South Africa’s first electric minibus taxi model

The project team consists of GoMetro, Powerfleet, HSW, ACDC Dynamics alongside various entities within Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Engineering. (Image source: GoMetro)

A consortium led by GoMetro, a transport technology platform, has launched eKamva, South Africa’s first electric minibus taxi model

Revealed at the Smarter Mobility Africa Summit, the announcement was made alongside the launch of an integrated new electric vehicle business model and charging infrastructure product called flx EV.

The unveiling of eKamva comes at a time when South African commuters are reportedly spending up to 40% of their income on transport and minibus taxis contributing an estimated 30mn tonnes of CO₂ in South Africa alone.

The flx EV website will allow minibus taxi owners and operators to apply to be added to the waiting list for the solution. flx EV is in the process of developing charging hubs with partners across South Africa, with the first hubs slated for development in Century City and Stellenbosch in the next 12 months. The flx EV app will let taxi owners manage their fleets, see each vehicle’s status and prepay for recharging, while drivers will be directed to their closest charging hub.

“This is a new approach to electrifying the smaller-vehicle public transport industry,” remarked GoMetro CEO Justin Coetzee. “We believe it will spark an entirely new economic sector and is socio-economically very important for the automotive sector.”

The benefits of electric

Switching electric will bring numerous advantages to taxi owners and, of course, to the environment. According to GoMetro, replacing urban taxi and shuffle fleets with eKamvas could reduce CO2 emissions by 13.7 tonnes per vehicle per annum.

“Most taxis spend up to three hours a day between morning and evening peak hours at the ranks we have analysed, more than sufficient time to fast-charge an eKwamva,” commented project lead Rudi Kriel. “EVs have fewer breakdowns than internal combustion vehicles, and are cheaper to run, which leads to increased profitability per vehicle – and they have a longer life expectancy. EVs also reduce nitrous oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter (known as PM2.5 particles) in the air, improving community health, a major cost factor for the Government.”

With a range of more than 200 km, the 15-seated eKamva is able to fast-charge within 75 minutes via a 60kW DC charger. Alternatively, it can be slow-charged overnight for 10 hours. An estimated 40-70% running cost savings are achieved by using the eKamva over traditional vehicles.

“The minibus taxi has long been a cornerstone of South Africa’s public transport system, reliably moving millions of people — from families to daily commuters— every day,” said Mario Maio, founder and CEO of ACDC Dynamics. “As the demand for sustainability grows, it is clear that the transportation industry must evolve. At ACDC Dynamics, we are proud to play a pivotal role in this transformation by providing EV charging solutions and sustainable energy products. By integrating electric-powered taxis and expanding charging networks, we are not only reducing the carbon footprint of this essential industry but also helping to create a greener, more responsible South Africa for future generations.”

E-mobility is certainly taking off on the continent, led by a number of innovative companies. Ampersand, for example, has targeted expansion into East Africa following the raising of significant capital over the last year.