Volkswagen Group said it would pack knocked down (KD) and overseas-sourced components for final vehicle assembly in the likes of Mexico, China and the US at Jade-Weser-Port in Wilhelmshaven, starting in 2019.

"The group is reacting to the growing demand for vehicles in overseas markets," the automaker said.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

"As a result, more and more parts such as headlamps, audio systems or steering wheels need to be exported for local production."

Logistics chief Thomas Zernechel said: "Jade-Weser-Port is Germany's only deep sea port. With the packing facility, we will be establishing a direct connection to a port which will allow our parts to be carried by the largest ships." Parts for VW, Audi and commercial vehicle brands will be packed in Wilhelmshaven and shipped to 25 locations in 15 countries.

The packaging centre will be built on a 100,000 sq m plot directly next to the port.

It will consist of four halls totalling 40,000 sq m. Each week, about 7,000 parts will be shipped to Wilhelmshaven and packed in 250 containers, 12,000 a year.

The centre will be built by a private investor with construction starting this year. As with similar current operations elsewhere, packing will be outsourced to a logistics service provider.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact