Salloum Logistics becomes Polaris Logistics, part of the new Polaris Group
The newly restructured Polaris Group is comprised of Polaris Autoliners, which specialises in roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping for the automotive sector, and Polaris Logistics, the finished vehicle logistics company formerly known as Salloum Logistics.
Founded in Duisburg, Germany in 2013, Salloum Logistics has specialised in the transport, storage and distribution of finished vehicles for over a decade. It manages the movement of cars and commercial vehicles using a combination of road, rail, and sea transport, helping manufacturers and fleet owners move vehicles efficiently between factories, ports, storage compounds and dealerships.
Now renamed Polaris Logistics to underline the groups streamlined focus on integrated shipping solutions, the company operates in Germany, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Romania.
Meanwhile, RoRo specialist Polaris Autoliners was founded in London in 2022 as a full-service logistics provider providing tailor-made service and high-quality solutions to global OEMs. Its solutions range from ocean transportation to inland distribution, as well as yard management solutions.
By bringing together both businesses under the Polaris name, Walid Salloum, chairman of Polaris Group, hopes to unify them through a clear group structure, new branding and a promise of 'driving trade'.
“Coming together as Polaris Group emphasises our focus since start: integrated end-to-end solutions offering ease, reliability and tailor-made services to our clients," Salloum said.
New vessels, routes and branches
To coincide with the restructuring, Polaris Group has made a series of announcements to support its ambition of 'driving trade'. Firstly, it has introduced a new vessel to its fleet – Polaris Mila, a pure car and truck carrier with a capacity of 4,900 car equivalent units (CEUs).
This specialised vessel is the sixth in the Polaris Group fleet and the first to be adorned in the new Polaris Group branding. It is set to operate routes in the Mediterranean, with Polaris Group stating that the addition of the vessel solidifies its dedication to simplifying complexity and reducing friction for customers.
At the same time, Polaris Group has launched a new service connecting the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Spain, North Africa and Turkey, which it believes will strengthen its automotive shipping network across Europe and the Mediterranean with reliable capacity and efficient routing.
Managing risk in 2026
Polaris Group chairman Walid Salloum discussed Polaris Group's plan to manage risk and mitigate disruption in the year ahead, with the industry experiencing so much uncertainty at the moment.
"The last few years have shown that disruption is no longer the exception but the norm," he said. "Our strategy is therefore built around flexibility: maintaining dedicated trucking capacity, developing alternative port and routing options, and keeping maritime capacity available through our short-sea network."
"We see increasing demand for reliable and flexible feeder services across the Mediterranean," Salloum told Automotive Logistics. "With this new service, Polaris can offer customers a more efficient corridor connecting key markets across the region.
Additionally, Polaris Group has announced the opening of new branches in Poland, the Czech Republic and Belgium, as well as a significant increase in new trucks. This move is set to strengthen the group's on-land capacity, supporting it in enabling flexible domestic and international distribution solutions tailored to customer needs.
Polaris Group now operates four inland terminals and a fleet of 230 trucks, as well as the six vessels. It operates in seven different countries and in 2025 transported more than 650,000 vehicles for major automotive OEMs.
"Our new fleet, routes and branches strengthen our already expansive global network, in line with our commitment to adaptability,” Salloum commented, explaining that the addition of new vessels, trucks and European branches is part of the group's long-term strategy to build a fully integrated automotive logistics platform, while expanding both its maritime and inland capabilities allows it to control more of the transport chain and offer customers reliable capacity even in challenging market conditions.
Speaking to Automotive Logistics, Salloum shared how this move will allow Polaris Group to better serve customers in the automotive sector. “Bringing our activities together under Polaris Group creates a clearer structure for customers and partners – it allows us to integrate maritime transport, inland trucking and logistics infrastructure into one coordinated platform," he said. "For automotive manufacturers and logistics providers, this means fewer interfaces, faster decision-making and more resilient supply chains.”
He outlined Polaris Group's key priorities for the next 12 months, focusing on strengthening its position in the market, promoting its services to OEMs and logistics providers, and further integrating its sea and land operations.
