Toyota uses VDL Groep hydrogen fuel cell trucks for Europe parts distribution The OEM is using the trucks for distribution between its European parts centre in Belgium and locations in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Marcus Williams
NxtPort launches the government- and port-backed Inbound Release Platform to help inbound cargo flows (Updated 23rd May 2025) The Inbound Release Platform (IRP), which went live at the beginning of April, is now in effect at all Belgium seaports. It acts as a central data sharing site for various stakeholders including customs agents and LSPs, streamlining customs compliance. Charlie Blackie-Kelly
Grimaldi is introducing additional liner services and investing in terminal operations around Europe Grimaldi is strengthening services for finished vehicle trade in Europe while at the same time building services for EV imports to there from China. Marcus Williams
DP World begins finished vehicle and rolling equipment operations at port of Zeebrugge DP World is building up its European finished vehicle services with the opening of facility at the port of Zeebrugge. Marcus Williams
Latest ECG business intelligence report shows increase in global vehicle exports but slight decline in EVs to EU The Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) reports there has been 25% increase in global vehicle exports from China but EU has imported fewer EVs in first nine months of 2024 Marcus Williams
Failure to find viable rescue plan means Audi’s troubled plant in Brussels will close in February 2025 Audi’s troubled Brussels plant which makes the Q8 e-tron will close in February next year after the carmaker’s failure to find a substitute investor. Marcus Williams
XPO supports auto supply chain with Benelux-Turkey multimodal service XPO Logistics has launched a 2,600 km multimodal corridor connecting the Belgian port city of Antwerp and Istanbul in Turkey. The logistics provider said the service is designed to support a wide range of industries, including automotive. Marcus Williams
Audi debates future of Brussels plant as Q8 e-tron orders drop Audi is considering the early closure of its Brussels assembly plant and the restructuring of the site. A decline in demand for the Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron, which are made there, comes on top of long-standing structural challenges at the Brussels site along with high logistics costs, according to the carmaker. That has made production costs higher for the Brussels plant compared to other sites. Marcus Williams
Sallaum Lines invests to expand vehicle capacity at Antwerp terminal Sallaum Lines’ subsidiary Sallaum Terminal is investing €20m ($21.6m) in its operations at the port of Antwerp to expand capacity and streamline logistics processes. The vehicle logistics provider said the investment was in response to pent-up demand and persistent capacity pressures as OEM volumes increase and terminal operators cope with the new requirements for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Marcus Williams
Yusen buys Parts Express to strengthen automotive logistics service Yusen Logistics division in the Benelux region of Europe has bought out Parts Express, a Dutch provider of aftermarket service parts logistics. Yusen said the buyout would strengthen its logistics services for the automotive industry, a priority sector alongside healthcare and retail. Marcus Williams
D’Ieteren chooses Inform system for VW Group moves in Belgium Belgian vehicle distributor D’Ieteren Automotive has chosen to use vehicle logistics and compound management tools provided by optimisation software specialist Inform. Marcus Williams
BMW using Medway rail service for vehicle movements BMW is moving more finished vehicles by rail following the set-up of a new service between its assembly plant in Regensburg, Germany and the Belgian port of Antwerp-Bruges. Marcus Williams
Antwerp EuroTerminal boosts capacity with multistorey vehicle park Construction has begun on a multistorey car park at the port of Antwerp in Belgium, Europe’s fourth-busiest vehicle handling port. The facility is located at the Grimaldi-run Antwerp EuroTerminal (AET) and will be used to store vehicles being processed through the port Jason Dunn
A game of two halves at Europe’s vehicle ports Volatility at Europe’s leading finished vehicle handling ports was made worse in 2020 by the impact of restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half of the year and then by resurgent demand in the second half. Marcus Williams reports Marcus Williams
France and other EU countries close border with UK putting freight flows at risk A number of countries, including France, have closed their borders with the UK to passengers and accompanied freight following the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK which is suspected to be more infectious than previous types. Illya Verpraet
Hanging in the balance Lower production output, slower growth in export markets and several regulatory and operational issues are threatening to unbalance Poland’s finished vehicle market Vladislav Vorotnikov
Changes are the only certainty at Ford of Europe Dirk Willmann, director of material planning and logistics for Ford Europe, outlines how the carmaker is improving visibility and adapting its vehicle logistics network across Europe to better manage customer demand and trade uncertainties. Christopher Ludwig
