To support the automotive companies that depend on several stringent supply chain concepts, including Just-In-Time etc., Maersk India, an integrated container logistics company, has launched the first ‘Automotive Express.’
Automotive manufacturers require highly reliable logistics services to move their raw material and finished products on precise schedules to ensure uninterrupted production processes. For years several automotive companies located in and around Gurugram in the northern part of India have been dependent on staggered and unscheduled rail movement for their cargo going in and out of the country. Delayed imports hamper production schedules while delayed exports pile up inventories for the manufacturers.
Automotive Express, along with Gateway Rail Freight, will run from the Garhi Harsaru Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Gurugram to APM Terminals Pipavav Port for exports and return with import cargo. It will have the capacity to move 180 TEUs (Twenty Feet Equivalent Containers) each way and support more than 25 customers from one of India’s most important automotive manufacturing belts. The customers booking their cargo on ‘Automotive Express’ will also have priority discharge from the port for higher reliability and to keep their supply chains on schedule.
The ‘Automotive Express’ will also connect the cargo to Maersk’s ocean transportation services from APM Terminals Pipavav to North American and Far East and South-East Asian markets on the MECL service for exports and FI3 and MECL services for imports. With this new service, the logistics company is taking a step forward towards strengthening its landside transportation offering in the country. Connecting key manufacturing hubs and ports through a solid trucking network, rail and depots bring a reliable and tailored solution to its customers.
Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia, said, “With the ‘Automotive Express’, we are not only simplifying our automotive customers’ supply chains by offering integrated logistics solution that bundles ocean and landside transportation but also driving cost and time efficiencies through the precisely scheduled movement of their cargo.”
Sachin Bhanushali, Director & CEO, Gateway Rail Freight, said, “Gateway Rail is excited to jointly launch the new ‘Automotive Express’ with Maersk that connects customers to their global import and export destinations through the MECL and FI3 services at APM Terminals Pipavav Port. GatewayRail has been a pioneer in innovative intermodal services such as the ‘Ship to Rail Service’ and now the ‘Automotive Express’ and is proud to be the intermodal operator of choice for Maersk India.”