Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has officially broken ground on a vehicle distribution centre at the port of Galveston in Texas. The company’s Vehicle Services Americas division (WWL VSA) is building the facility to handle BMW and Mini shipments to the southeastern part of the US state.
As first reported last month, the facility will cover eight hectares and provide full technical services and body shop work, storage and inspections for up to 32,500 cars per year. BMW said the VPC would better serve the 45 dealers it has in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.
“Rapid delivery to our customers and dealers is a key element to exceptional customer service,” said Craig Westbrook, Aftersales VP of BMW North America. “Once fully operational, the new port of Galveston Vehicle Distribution Center will enable us to receive, prepare and deliver vehicles to the southern region even more quickly than before.”
The centre will be operated WWL VSA division under BMW on-site management.
The facility will include over more than 4,000 sq.m of processing space in two buildings on approximately eight hectares of land. It will provide services covering vehicle inspection, repairs (mechanical, and paint and body), accessory installation, vehicle programming and vehicle maintenance and storage
“This project helps the Port achieve its mission of being the economic engine for the city of Galveston and the local region,” said Michael Mierzwa, port director, Port of Galveston. “With this new vehicle processing centre we are confident that the activity level of the port will continue to increase, including the creation of new livable wage jobs. We are pleased that our successful efforts to maintain existing world-class tenants and to attract additional ones continues.”
WWL VSA already has a facility at Galveston supporting the construction, agricultural and mining equipment sectors and providing storage for 7,000 units.
Last year BMW opened a VPC at the port of Baltimore, which is also being managed by logistics WWL VSA and is expected to handle imports of around 166,000 BMW and Mini vehi
