NYK Logistics (China) has opened a new branch in Nanjing that will include automotive support for Chang’an Mazda Ford as it prepares to increase output in the country.
“The customer is the auto parts vendor of the Changan Mazda Ford Nanjing factory. We are now handling their import/export operation, warehouse management and JIT delivery," an NYK spokesperson told Automotive Logistics magazine.
Mazda’s venture in China with Ford and Chongqing Changan Automobile operates two plants, the Nanjing facility and one in Chongqing. As Mazda increases output of the Mazda3, full capacity has been reached at Chongqing and the company has chosen to relocate to the Nanjing factory to meet the increased production target.
A third assembly plant is planned in China for 2012.
Last year, Mazda Motor turned out 173,788 vehicles in China, and its sales surged 68% in the third quarter of 2009. It plans to sell 220,000 cars in the country this year.
NYK Logistics (China) is also planning to open two further branches in Wuhan and Wuxi in May 2010.
The use of third party logistics providers in China is a central theme at this year's Automotive Logistics China conference being held in Beijing between 18-20 April (read more here).
Elsewhere NYK has also opened a new office in Almaty, in the south-east corner of Kazakhstan, the first one opened in the country by the company.
In October last year, NYK Holding Europe took a 25% stake in Tranco Terminal, an Almaty-based car-terminal operator and the company has now decided to establish a foothold through its Russian division, NYK Logistics Rus, to expand the Tranco business by providing car terminal services to local customers.
The company is reported to be looking for new business in the local market and considering automotive transport services from ports in China and Europe to Kazakhstan, taking advantage of Trans-Siberian Railway.
Mazda started using the Trans-Siberian Railroad car shipments in October 2008 and was the first carmaker to use the route for regular traffic. The vehicles, which come from its Hiroshima and Hofu plants in Japan, travel 9,300km over 10 days between Zarubino (near Vladivostok, where they are delivered by ship) to Mikhnevo terminal in Moscow (read more here).
