DHL delivers Mercedes-Benz Gullwing worldwide

DHL Global Forwarding, the world's leading provider of air and ocean freight services, was entrusted with the global distribution of the new Mercedes-Benz sports car, the AMG SLS Gullwing.

The cars are forwarded both by sea and by air to 40 destinations worldwide. The strong DHL network, which covers 220 countries and territories around the world, and the broad range of logistics services offered by DHL Global Forwarding to the automotive industry were the decisive factors in acquiring the prestigious contract.

"With our proven expertise in automotive logistics, we also specialize in the transport of individual extraordinary and high-value cars. That is why we are very pleased that Daimler entrusted us with the distribution of their brand new sports car," says Volker Oesau, CEO DHL Global Forwarding Central Europe and Global Sponsor Automotive.

DHL's industry-specific network was a decisive factor for Daimler's decision to entrust DHL Global Forwarding with this project. With more than 100 qualified automotive logistics experts worldwide, based in nearly 20 Automotive Competence Centers at all the important locations in Europe, the Middle East, in Asia and in America, DHL boasts an excellent infrastructure.

Customized transport concept

"Customers have been awarding DHL these contracts due to our strong industry network that includes teams of qualified experts. It enables us to provide quick, reliable and consistently high-quality service to our customers," comments Charles McGurin, Global Automotive Sector Head, DHL Global Forwarding on this new business.

Specially for Daimler and tailored to this task, the Automotive Competence Team of DHL Global Forwarding developed a customized transport concept. A special packaging solution ensures that the precious collectors' vehicles can be loaded safely and efficiently as ocean and airfreight shipments. To start with, the sports cars are picked up at the production site of the car manufacturer in southern Germany.

Those vehicles that are not forwarded to their final destinations directly can be stored temporarily in a secure area of the DHL Automotive Competence Center (ACC) in Frankfurt. The ACC is responsible for the steering of operations and the global distribution of every single Mercedes-Benz gullwing in coordination with the regional DHL Competence Centers. To provide all parties with full visibility of every step of the whole transport process, all the relevant delivery data are fed into the customer's track and trace system, where 24/7 online access to the data is ensured.

Moreover, by offering the so-called "Customized Car Safety Box", a patented container for prototypes and luxury cars, DHL Freight has already gained a good reputation for special transports and the ability to meet individual requirements of the automotive industry. This innovative transport box for high-value vehicles boasts a number of technical details, such as a hot-dip galvanized steel platform, a suspensible aluminum hood, a special ramp for vehicles with low ground clearance, interior thermal insulation, additional doors and an integrated, manually operated rope winch.