Navigating the storm: How strategy, technology, and talent are reinventing automotive logistics

Abstract

The automotive logistics sector is undergoing a fundamental reinvention driven by geopolitical volatility, technological advancement and the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). This paper explores how a triad of capabilities — strategic planning, innovation, and workforce transformations — enables industry stakeholders to navigate mounting disruptions in global supply chains. Drawing on current market trends, case studies and actionable insights, it highlights the shifting paradigms in finished vehicle logistics, including the rise of hybrid transport models, such as cars-in-containers (CiC), and the growing role of multimodal infrastructure. We examine how digital supply chain tools, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are enhancing operational efficiency and visibility. This paper also addresses emerging logistical challenges in EV battery handling, compliance and infrastructure, underscoring the urgency of scalable charging networks. Labour shortages, skills gaps and outdated infrastructure are identified as critical constraints to resilience, requiring both public–private collaboration and workforce upskilling. Additionally, the paper analyses regional EV trends across North America, highlighting Canada’s regulatory leadership, the US’s acceleration in infrastructure and Mexico’s role in nearshoring and Chinese investment inflows. Political risk and sustainability imperatives further complicate logistics planning, requiring scenario-based resilience and cross-functional alignment across logistics, compliance and policy teams. Readers — original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), logistics providers, policymakers and investors — will gain strategic frameworks and practical solutions to build adaptive, future-ready logistics ecosystems. This paper ultimately calls for a paradigm shift from traditional supply chain models to agile, technologyenabled and sustainability-focused networks that can thrive amid ongoing uncertainty. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https:// hstalks.com/business/.