Changan UK's new parts warehouse and Kuehne+Nagel partnership key to its five-year aftersales strategy
Chinese automaker Changan has shared a look inside its new UK parts warehouse at East Midlands Gateway after it announced a partnership with logistics service provider Kuehne+Nagel in November 2025. It plans to expand its operation at the facility as part of a five-year growth plan.
Changan UK announced its partnership wih Kuehne+Nagel in November 2025, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding to develop aftermarket logistics for electric vehicle models across the broader European market in April last year.
"With our extensive expertise in automotive logistics and strategically located facilities in Europe, we can deliver reliable supply chain solutions to support Changan Automobile's ambitious growth plans," said Gianfranco Sgro, executive vice president contract logistics and integrated logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, at the time of the MOU’s signing.
The aim of this collaboration was to enhance Changan's supply chain capabilities and ensure efficient distribution across Europe, in line with the automaker's 'Vast Ocean Plan' for growth around the globe.
Following the UK-focused agreement between the two companies in November last year, Kuehne+Nagel has begun operating a new parts warehouse for Changan UK at East Midlands Gateway.
"This strategic location provides immediate access to the international airport, the M1 national motorway, the Eurotunnel, and an on-site railhead offering direct rail solutions from our parts centre in China into the EU," explained Gregory Bednarz, aftersales director at Changan UK.
Changan has said that this 3,600 sq. m, fully temperature-controlled facility was "built to keep parts moving quickly and customers on the road".
In a video shared by Changan Europe on LinkedIn, Bednarz explained that the facility is being used to support a five-year growth strategy, with the warehouse supporting future expansion. He said that just the first three racks will be used in the first phase of this plan, but Changan is "looking to expand into the rest of this warehouse space" in the second and third year.
The facility stores parts ranging from headlights to bumpers to tyres – all of which come from Changan UK's parent company in China. The warehouse's racking solutions were designed with efficiency in mind, aiming to get parts out to customers in as little time as possible.
"We have got very strict service level agreements and KPIs that we want to measure ourselves against to ensure that our customers always get the part as quickly as possible," Bednarz commented.
He acknowledged that keeping customers waiting can result in additional costs for the customer, the dealer, and insurance companies, and so noted that it is of "utmost importance" that parts are moving around efficiently at the right quantity.
"With fully stocked parts to support vehicles in market, smart racking for efficient pick, pack and dispatch, and engineered packaging to prevent transit damage, we are ensuring fast, reliable support for our accident repair centres, approved dealer network and customers," Bednarz shared.
"We’re also preparing parts for future product launches to stay ahead of demand," he added.
