CEVA Logistics and the Port of Dunkirk in France have signed a contract for a plot of land on which CEVA will develop a new finished vehicle logistics operation for import and export by sea.

The announcement said that CEVA will be deploying a complete new vehicle logistics park on this site, located in the eastern part of the Port of Dunkirk, linked to the maritime flows of exports and imports to and from the Port of Dunkirk.  

The site will contain vehicle reception and storage areas, as well as loading and unloading areas for trains and vehicle transport trucks.

Development will start in October 2024.

Following completion, CEVA expects to handle around 47,000 vehicles a year and to reach an annual volume of 95,000 vehicles by March 2025.

"These projections are based on CEVA's close relationships with the major automakers, who are keen to transit their flows through the Port of Dunkirk, the gateway to France's battery valley and the only European port to offer an ecosystem around electric mobility," the announcement said.

It added that the construction of a 600 m² workshop would enable on-site preparation operations, including washing, engraving, plate fitting and other detailing and mechanical services, to be carried out on 50,000 vehicles per year.

"In the medium term, CEVA will double its capacity with an additional 10.5 hectares of land, bringing the total surface area of its platform to 20 hectares and its park capacity to 8,700 parking spaces," the announcement said.

CEVA possesses a fleet of 3,000 trucks and 3,000 car-carrier wagons.

In addition to the sea chartering capabilities of its deep-sea car-carrier vessels, CEVA noted that it also has a number of assets at its disposal to develop intermodal links at the Port of Dunkirk and attract additional volumes.

The announcement said the implementation of a rail spur will enable CEVA to speed up turnaround times by reserving one or two rail links per week and allocating part of its own fleet of vehicle transport trucks on a recurring basis.

"Most ports in Northern Europe have been particularly congested since the resumption of automobile production," CEVA Logistics said in a statement.

It added that by setting up the Dunkirk port operations, CEVA will contribute to strengthening automotive hubs and the emergence of the electric vehicle ecosystem in the Hauts-de-France region.

"The launch of the new automotive logistics center at the Port of Dunkirk is a strategic development that will enable us to increase the efficiency and resilience of the supply chains of our customers, exporters and importers," said Mathieu Friedberg, CEO of CEVA Logistics.

"The new location will enhance the region's logistics potential while supporting our customers' expansion into new markets," he added.

Maurice Georges, chairman of the board of Dunkerque-Port, said its partnership with CEVA will enable the port to offer a "complete range of services to automakers."

"This is Dunkirk's new industrial model, based on the principles of a circular, low-carbon economy. Together, we're going to accelerate the energy transition and achieve carbon neutrality while generating additional maritime traffic," he added.