Automotive logistics with a long-term perspective
From vehicle parts to finished vehicles – we ensure climate-friendly transport in the automotive sector.
Your advantages at a glance
- Europe-wide rail network with fast high-performance lanes between the automotive clusters
- Plug & play approach also for customers without a private siding
- Door-to-door logistics by combining rail and road from a single source
- Just-in-time and just-in-sequence into the plant
- Safe battery logistics
- Modern wagon fleet for vehicle transport and transport of vehicle parts
- 1400000 vehicles transported per year
- Up to 250 trains a day in the Automotive RailNet
- 164000 wagons with vehicle parts transported by rail every year
- 325600 tonnes of CO2e saved per year thanks to our automotive transports
One industry – two product groups
Everyone has seen them: long freight trains fully loaded with brand new cars. They are the symbol of car transport by train. However, DB Cargo Logistics not only transports finished vehicles, but also vehicle parts. Every day, up to 250 freight trains travel across Europe in DB Cargo's network for the automotive industry, ensuring that both components and finished vehicles reach their destination safely and efficiently.
Range of services
Logistics for vehicles and vehicle parts can be very complex and include many other services in addition to transport. We always have our finger on the pulse and not only transport everything to do with cars, but also think and plan our customers' logistics.
Our Automotive RailNet combines the best of both worlds: the speed and efficiency of block train transport with the flexibility and scalability of single wagonload transport. The specific industry network connects automotive plants as well as suppliers, dealers and harbours in Europe and is constantly being expanded. We are operating up to 250 trains per day with vehicles and vehicle parts in the Automotive RailNet. High-performance lanes between the major automotive clusters are the centrepiece of the network. We have also integrated special train formation yards, known as hubs, into the network at strategic junctions. These are smaller and faster than the large marshalling yards and serve to consolidate and distribute transport volumes.
Using the plug & play principle, new customers can be quickly and easily connected to the closely meshed network between the automotive clusters. This applies not only to car manufacturers, but also to suppliers such as battery manufacturers. The highlight here is that it does not matter whether the location has its own railway siding. Multimodal rail access points such as logistics centres, railports and terminals are used to connect production sites to the environmentally friendly rail network as required.
We operate our own logistics centres, which specialise in the storage and consolidation of vehicle parts, at locations with good transport links and close to major automotive plants. With a railway siding and modern handling technology, they enable environmentally friendly, rail-based material supply to automotive plants or rail access for suppliers. At the customer's request, we can temporarily store materials on the site and deliver them directly to the assembly line of an automotive plant on a just-in-time and just-in-sequence basis.
With our own car terminals and terminal holdings, we can provide customers with targeted support in the distribution of their finished vehicles. Thanks to a location close to the plant, large storage facilities and multimodal transport connections, our terminals act as central distribution hubs for automotive plants. In addition to storage and transhipment services as well as destination-specific consolidation, we also offer many other vehicle-related services at the car terminals using the latest technology – such as incoming vehicle inspections, cleaning, battery and tyre pressure checks and pre-delivery inspections.
By offering multimodal logistics chains, we manage and organise not only rail transport but also truck pre- and on-carriage for customers without a private siding as well as direct truck journeys in case of peak volumes or to increase flexibility. We work together with strong partners for road transport and in many cases take on the role of lead logistics provider. Thanks to our own disposition unit specially geared towards the automotive industry, we manage these cross-modal transports door-to-door from a single source and also offer customers maximum transparency regarding the status of their shipments.
On selected routes, we also provide high-frequency shuttle connections in combined transport with daily departures for craneable mega trailers, containers and swap bodies. For example, the Trailer Romania Xpress runs at high frequency between Germany and south-east Europe and can be flexibly integrated into the intermodal transport chain by various customers.
"Managing the entire logistics chain from a single source by integrating a strong rail solution – that's what rail logistics mean to us."
We navigate the path of transformation alongside the automotive industry
The automotive industry is changing: away from combustion engines and towards alternative drive technologies, automation and digitalisation of plants, more individualisation in production, changing distribution channels, new players entering the market and changes in the life cycle of a car. We are supporting the automotive industry in all of these developments, whether through the forward-looking modernisation of our car carrier wagons, the quick connection of battery manufacturers to our network or the continuous development of our digital interface solutions for a smooth flow of information with our customers.
Battery logistics
Climate-friendly logistics for batteries
More and more electric cars are coming onto the market, equipped with powerful lithium-ion batteries. Through efficient battery logistics solutions, we support the automotive industry in achieving its ecological and economic goals. With environmentally friendly rail transport and a multimodal network, we are paving the way for low-emission logistics for e-cars.
Connecting battery manufacturers to the Automotive RailNet
In accordance with the plug & play principle, we connect battery manufacturers quickly and easily to the existing Automotive RailNet and thus connect them seamlessly to all major automotive plants. We also frequently advise our customers on the dimensioning of the logistics and rail infrastructure, especially for new plants. Even without their own railway sidings, we gradually connect battery manufacturers and cell suppliers to our network via numerous railports and logistics centres.
Advantages of the rail
The rail is predestined for the transport of lithium-ion batteries and their cells. Especially with regard to the weight of these heavy goods, rail can fully utilise its strengths: The load factor for freight wagons, for example, is two and a half times higher than for lorries. Rail freight transport is also ahead when it comes to safety, in terms of accident frequency. This is an important advantage for lithium-ion cells and battery modules, which are classified as dangerous goods. Last but not least, rail also scores highly in terms of its environmental benefits and therefore makes a significant contribution to ensuring that e-cars are delivered with a small carbon footprint.
"With our plug-and-play approach, we can keep the network open to new manufacturers and suppliers and react to new trends, cargo streams and sites at any time."
Flexible equipment
In recent years, the demand for SUVs and electric vehicles has increased significantly. Both vehicle types place special demands on car transport: SUVs are heavier, wider and higher than conventional vehicles, while electric cars also have increased weight and often lower ground clearance due to their batteries – similar to that of sports cars. We recognised these market trends early on and our flexible car carrier wagons offer an innovative solution for the safe transport of a wide range of vehicle types, from classic compact cars to large SUVs and heavy electric vehicles. The infinitely adjustable upper loading level is the key here. It enables individual adjustment of the loading height and optimum utilisation of the loading volume. The new generation of wagons also offers the advantage of a higher load limit and is designed for individual weights of up to 3.2 tonnes.
"Our entire fleet is continuously customised to your products, includes all developments in electric mobility and offers high loading capacity and optimum load securing."
Innovative, modern and customer-orientated
Insight into the automotive sector at DB Cargo Logistics
DB Cargo Logistics is a reliable partner to the automotive industry. The DB Cargo subsidiary specialises in the transport of vehicles and vehicle parts and bundles all of DB's automotive transports under one roof.
Battery logistics
We link battery manufacturing with automotive production – by designing individual and customised transport solutions for lithium-ion cells and battery modules.
Network
Convince yourself of our network: advantages and information on the Automotive RailNet can be found on the network landing page.
Get in touch with our expert.
Kai Birnstein
Head of Automotive at DB Cargo Logistics
Go