In Mexico, Volkswagen has begun construction of a new $23m central distribution facility adjacent to its production plant at Puebla. The logistics hub will open at the end of August 2012. The construction of the facility is being handled by the Alhemos de Puebla company, which is being granted a long lease and will also manage the property.
Within Mexico itself, Volkswagen averages annual sales of 150,000 cars, most of which will be despatched directly from the Puebla facility. Covering an area of 270,000 square metres, it will have a static storage capacity of 12,000 units.
Last year, the Puebla manufacturing plant produced 500,000 vehicles, beating the previous record of 450,000 units in 2008. VW exports 80% of output from the plant, which makes the New Jetta, Classic, SportWagen and Beetle models. Up to half of its exports are for the US, for which the main transport mode is rail.
Puebla is one of VW’s largest car manufacturing plants and is the largest automotive manufacturing plant in Mexico.
Mexico’s export demand grew 15% in 2011 compared to the year prior to more than 2.1m vehicles, which has fuelled the development of increased capacity at a number of carmakers operating in the country. GM is increasing capacity at its Silao plant as is Ford at Hermasillo. Mazda, Honda and Nissan have all announced they are building new plants in the country.
