VW is planning a new transshipment center in Venice – Bremerhaven is shaking!

VW is planning a new transshipment center in Venice – Bremerhaven is shaking!

There are exciting developments in the automotive industry: Volkswagen (VW) is planning to establish a new central hub for car transport in Southern Europe in Venice. This decision could not only improve logistics in the region, but also affect the existing infrastructure at the port of Bremerhaven and Emden. Loud news38.de With this project, VW wants to optimize vehicle distribution in Central and Southern Europe and thus also reduce CO₂ emissions in the supply chain.

The choice of Venice as a logistics location results from its favorable geographical location. A prime location for car transport, well connected to other transport routes. The project manager of the initiative is the Vezzani company, and the first ship deployment at the new terminal is planned for 2025. However, this transshipment point could put severe pressure on business at the existing car terminal in Bremerhaven, where around 1.3 million vehicles were transshipped in 2024. The terminal operator BLG is concerned that there is a risk of loss of income.

Bremerhaven and Emden under pressure

The developments around the new transshipment point in Venice also cast shadows on the locations in Bremerhaven and Emden. Many VW vehicles are currently being shipped in Bremerhaven, and the port of Emden is the third largest automobile transshipment port in Europe. The port is crucial for the distribution of imported vehicles from countries such as Portugal, Spain and Mexico. In 2023, around 1.3 million vehicles were shipped here, a third of which are electric vehicles. The uncertainty about future handling volumes is making both the employees of Bremerhaven and Emden sit up and take notice.

The Emden location is also closely linked to VW's electromobility plans. Significant investments have already been made here in the production of electric vehicles. The restructuring of Emden production, which has been underway since 2020, focuses on the production of models such as the ID.4, which has been in production since May 2022, and the new ID.7, whose production began in summer 2023. With the goal of achieving CO₂ neutrality by 2030, the switch to renewable energies in Emden is also being pushed forward Volkswagen Newsroom reported.

The path to electromobility

Volkswagen has big intentions in electromobility and plans to introduce around 70 new electric car models over the next decade. The ID.3 and future models are at the center of the strategy. These should be produced locally with zero emissions and CO₂-neutral, which also benefits the brand's image. The factory in Zwickau will be completely converted to electric production, with an investment volume of 1.2 billion euros. Zukunft-technik.de emphasizes that VW wants to optimize the production chain with a high level of automation and innovative manufacturing technology.

With these future-oriented plans, it is clear that Volkswagen wants to play a key role in the automotive industry both today and in the years to come. It is important to maintain a balance between ecological goals and economic interests, especially with regard to the existing locations in Germany. Whether the new transshipment point in Venice ultimately brings the promised benefits remains to be seen and will certainly be closely monitored by the entire industry.