BMW has opened a vehicle distribution centre (VDC) in the US port of Baltimore with logistics property developer Tradepoint Atlantic.

BMW, Baltimore Sparrows Point

BMW VDC, Baltimore Sparrows Point

The 14-hectare site at Sparrows Point includes a 7,000 sq.m processing facility that has the capacity to process 100,000 vehicles annually. BMW said the new facility doubled the size of its previous VDC at the adjacent Dundalk Marine Terminal. 

The vehicles processed there are imported to Baltimore port from Europe for onward delivery to 126 BMW and Mini dealers in the central and eastern regions of the US.  

As well as serving as a distribution hub, the VDC will provide services including pre-delivery inspection, repairs, accessory installations, vehicle programming and maintenance.  

“Vehicle distribution centres are a critically important part of our operations, helping to support our dealer network and ultimately in getting vehicles into customers hands,” said Claus Eberhart, vice-president of aftersales, BMW of North America. “With the ability to process up to 100,000 vehicles annually, the BMW vehicle distribution centre at Tradepoint Atlantic Terminal will help us meet growing demand for BMW and MINI vehicles in the region.” 

Tradepoint Atlantic moved to Sparrows Point in 2018 when it bought the disused Bethlehem Steel site for $33.5m. It has spent the intervening years developing a 3,300-acre multimodal logistics and industrial centre at the Port of Baltimore. Stellantis and VW are among the other carmakers with operations at Tradepoint Atlantic’s facilities at Sparrows Point. 

Sparrows Point terminal is served by both road and rail links. 

Next month, BMW will introduce two pure battery electric vehicles to the US – the BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle and the BMW i4, four-door Gran Coupe. 

BMW of North America currently operates VDCs in New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia, Texas and California, serving a network of 350 BMW and 105 Mini dealers nationwide.