In the face of high pressure, geopolitical instability and frequent disruption, traditional efforts to mitigate risks may no longer be enough, whether expediting freight or increasing buffer inventory. That is why JLR is working with its partners to embed rapid intelligence and cross‑functional alignment to ensure more localised, rapid decision making, allow for more seamless adjustments and adaptations to operations. An uncertain market, disrupted supply chain and rapid technology change require hyper fast adaptability - a resilience ‘on speed’.  

In this keynote, Heiko Gierhardt will discuss how JLR is adapting its approach across digital systems, supplier partners and Industrial Operations (manufacturing, procurement and supply chain). He will show how JLR is accelerating threat detection, sharing actionable intelligence across teams, and setting response targets that prioritise recovery and learning. 

Join this session to understand more about how JLR is re-imagining risk management, including through scenario planning, data governance for intelligence flows, and targets that preserve operational momentum and shorten recovery time. 

This keynote will include:

• Creating an intelligence loop that translates signals into scenarios and routes them to decision owners.  
• How to empower cross‑functional teams with clear targets to maintain motivation and speed recovery
• Setting ambitious but achievable targets to mitigate disruption, speed up recovery and ensure continuous improvement across supply chain risk management.

This session explores how UK OEMs and suppliers are redesigning logistics networks to reduce risk while maintaining responsiveness. Topics include multi-tier supplier visibility, consolidation strategies, transport planning, packaging and the role of digital tools in improving predictability. The discussion will focus on practical approaches to managing uncertainty without sacrificing efficiency or cost discipline. 

As the industry faces intensifying pressure to reduce aggressive sustainability targets, whilst reducing costs and improving efficiencies, packaging has become central to Cummins’ efforts to cut waste and cost as part of the company’s “Destination Zero” strategy.

This session explores how Cummins has transformed its global packaging strategy and operations, harnessing innovation and partnerships to fast-track the integration of a new packaging model that breaks down silos and repositions packaging as a strategic enabler for a more competitive, sustainable and efficient supply chain.

Collaboration has underpinned the transformation—from internal change management to leveraging the scale, capabilities and global reach of key supply chain performance improvement partners, such as Unipart — enabling the rapid rollout of a new centralised returnable container management and fulfilment system that improves visibility, control and performance across operations.

This case study highlights how aligned expertise and a shared vision are turning packaging into a driver of cost efficiency, resilience and sustainability.

As electrification accelerates, aftersales and service capabilities are becoming critical enablers of EV adoption and long-term customer confidence. At the same time, demand for energy storage systems (ESS) is rising rapidly, fuelled by clean power targets and the transition to renewable energy. CATL is at the forefront of this transformation, advancing EV battery and energy storage system capabilities to support the region’s energy transition and the full battery lifecycle across the UK and EMEA.

In this keynote, Saba Azizi will outline CATL’s strategic roadmap for scaling ESS and battery aftersales infrastructure, from early market entry to volume growth, while addressing the complexities of battery logistics, service readiness and cross-industry collaboration. The session will explore how strong partnerships, agile supply chains and forward-looking service models are key to enabling a resilient and future-ready EV ecosystem.

Join this session to discover:

• How CATL is designing and scaling aftersales and service networks to support rapid EV and ESS growth across the UK and EMEA  
• The transformation of EV and battery supply chains, from linear flows to integrated, lifecycle-driven ecosystems  
• CATL’s strategic vision and roadmap for strengthening regional capabilities, partnerships and infrastructure  
• Key operational considerations for building resilient, scalable and cost-effective battery service and ESS value chains 

This session explores how finished vehicle logistics for UK-built exports, imports and domestic distribution is being reshaped by sustainability targets, digital visibility and new models of collaboration. Speakers will discuss the deployment of alternatively fuelled truck fleets and green logistics initiatives to meet tighter regulations, alongside tools that provide real-time visibility from port to dealer to improve planning, quality and responsiveness.

The conversation will examine how OEMs, ports, carriers and logistics providers can strengthen partnerships and network management to optimise flows, increase port throughput and reduce damage and delays. It will also address how to better manage peaks and troughs in capacity demand through flexible assets, shared networks and data-driven forecasting, while improving equipment and driver utilisation and maintaining competitiveness across the UK outbound network.
 

As vehicle programmes grow more complex, ensuring efficient material handling, safe operations and precise packaging integration is critical to launch success. Ford’s digital twin approach brings global teams together in a shared virtual space, allowing real-time collaboration, faster decision-making and early validation—before physical prototypes or production assets are built.

In this keynote, Stuart Clarke will explore how Ford is scaling digital twin capabilities across its manufacturing network to improve safety, reduce cost and accelerate launch readiness, while integrating virtual validation into broader engineering and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) workflows.

Join this session to discover:

• How Ford uses immersive VR to identify safety, ergonomic and layout issues early in material flow and packaging design phase
• The role of digital twins in validating real-world material flow, including AGVs, forklifts and line-side deliver
• How virtual packaging validation reduces prototype iterations and ensures fit-for-purpose designs
• Integration of digital twin data into PLM systems to create a closed-loop engineering workflow
• Strategies for scaling digital twin adoption across plants, teams and supplier networks
• The impact on launch efficiency, cost reduction and performance during job-one and post-launch phases 

Automotive logistics networks face increasing pressure to scale globally, respond faster to disruption, and collaborate across complex partner ecosystems. While planning and execution systems often take center stage, integration and EDI remain a critical foundation for resilience, reliability, and operational performance.

In this joint session, Scania and SEEBURGER share how Scania moved from a traditional on premise EDI landscape to a cloud based, managed integration operating model. The discussion highlights the business drivers behind this shift, its impact on logistics operations and partner onboarding, and how a cloud foundation enables greater scalability, automation, and stability across the supply chain.

Looking ahead, the session explores how this model supports an evolution from highly deterministic integration processes toward more autonomous, AI assisted logistics operations—enabling more adaptive, proactive handling of events while keeping human expertise firmly in control of critical outcomes.
 

This panel looks at how advancing technologies are being applied across UK automotive logistics networks to improve visibility, operations, decision-making and service levels, and explores the best practices and lessons learned for successfully integrating and scaling digital tools, software platforms and solutions to deliver ROI, operational continuity and logistics performance improvements. 

Join Logistics UK for an essential keynote examining the key trends, challenges and regulatory developments reshaping supply chain strategies and logistics operations. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, evolving trade requirements, decarbonisation pressures and rising operating costs, gain insight into the rapidly changing logistics landscape, from environmental regulation and reporting requirements to infrastructure investment, network connectivity, and skills development.

Discover logistics best practices, innovations and lessons from non-automotive sectors, while exploring the policy priorities shaping logistics performance and competitiveness. Learn how industry, government and key stakeholders can work together to reduce friction, strengthen resilience and accelerate innovation to support a more efficient, transparent and future-ready automotive supply chain.
 

This panel will discuss how strategic supply chain and logistics planning can help the UK automotive sector to be more connected, efficient, sustainable and customer focused. Topics include strengthening supply chain and vehicle programme planning, improving infrastructure alignment, preparing workers and managers for digitalisation and AI, whilst strengthening long-term partnerships between OEMs, suppliers and logistics providers. The focus is on how collaboration and strategic alignment can unlock resilience, innovation and sustained competitiveness.

Get up to speed on the latest developments in European packaging legislation, including PPWR and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and understand how these regulations are reshaping packaging design, compliance requirements and supply chain operations across the region. This session will explore how manufacturers and suppliers can prepare for changing requirements, respond to evolving customer and market expectations, and align packaging strategies with both sustainability objectives and operational performance. Attendees will also gain an understanding of how European regulations compare with the UK's own packaging framework, including pEPR and the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), highlighting shared goals and important differences in approach.

Key insights include:

• What PPWR and Extended Producer Responsibility mean for UK automotive companies importing from and exporting to the EU
• How evolving compliance, reporting and traceability requirements are impacting cross-border automotive supply chains
• Key differences and common objectives between EU packaging regulations and the UK's pEPR and Plastic Packaging Tax
• The latest regulatory developments and timelines shaping packaging compliance across Europe
• Practical strategies to reduce waste, improve packaging performance and support cost-efficient, resilient supply chains
   

Join Catherine Zhu, Head of Logistics at OMODA | JAECOO UK LIMITED, Subsidiary of Chery Auto UK, as she reveals how the carmaker is transforming its logistics strategy, network, and operations to fuel rapid growth and competitiveness in the UK automotive market. With demand surging, she will share insights into the rapid expansion of logistics facilities, resources, and systems, including investments in logistics yards and vehicle logistics fleets to ensure the supply chain keeps pace with market success. With practical, real-world examples, discover how a new market entrant is building resilience and efficiency from the ground up and the UK’s logistics and technology providers can transform vision into reality.