GSCW chat recap: Enhancing automotive supply chain resilience

Semiconductor shortage impacts trucking less because of volumes

Guidehouse Insights principal analyst Sam Abuelsamid says battery components and charging infrastructure are possible bottlenecks in the electric truck supply chain.

This fireside chat recap is from Day 4 of FreightWaves’ Global Supply Chain Week. Day 4 focuses on automotive.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Making trucking supply chains resilient amid growth in electrification 

DETAILS: The rush to get more electric trucks to market sooner creates supply chain challenges in two areas: battery components and charging infrastructure.

SPEAKER: Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst, Guidehouse Insights 

BIO: Abuelsamid is a principal analyst leading Guidehouse Insights’ E-Mobility Research Service. He focuses on transportation electrification, automated driving and mobility services. Abuelsamid was trained as a mechanical engineer and worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades developing advanced electronic control systems and embedded software. He also is an automotive journalist who contributes to several publications.

KEY QUOTES FROM ABUELSAMID

“The problem you have in the auto industry is if you’re missing even one of the thousands of parts that go into every vehicle, you can’t ship the vehicle.”

“There is going to be a dramatic increase in demand for batteries over the next five to 10 years. We’re still trying at the same time to ramp up production for the key raw materials, things like lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, aluminum. The other piece that is likely to pose a challenge is the charging infrastructure.”

“Whether Nikola succeeds or not, a lot of the ideas they’ve articulated make a lot of sense. The approach of generating hydrogen from renewables is ideally the way you want to go.”

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
AI

Supply Chain AI Symposium

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

July 15, 2026
The Old Post • Chicago, IL
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
AI Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • The Old Post • Chicago, IL

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

The Old Post • Chicago, IL Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Alan Adler

Alan Adler is an award-winning journalist who worked for The Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press. He also spent two decades in domestic and international media relations and executive communications with General Motors.