DP World demonstrates its airfreight expertise Seamlessly from factory floor to summit door
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EYEP00113 2024 Belgium Freight forwarding Air Airplane Car Automotive Liege Maybach

GLOBAL AIRFREIGHT: SEAMLESSLY DELIVERING MERCEDES MAYBACHS

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LUXURY ON TIME

DP World Freight Forwarding organized the delivery of 31 brand new Mercedes Maybach cars from the production plant in Germany to Laos for the ASEAN Summit 2024. From factory floor to summit door, perfectly on time and via the most efficient route, even exceeding the client's original expectations. It makes the complex airfreight project a prime example of DP World's freight forwarding capabilities to manage large-scale, high-value cargo transportation in the best possible way.

The project started with a general inquiry from Mercedes-Benz dealer Auto Lao in Laos who sought to transport 31 Mercedes-Maybach cars from the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen, Germany to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Initially, the request was to deliver the cars to Bangkok in Thailand.

From there, the cars would then be driven over a distance of 800 kilometers to Laos. Concerns about road conditions and the safety of these high-value vehicles during transport gave DP World pause for thought and to propose an alternative reliable and cost-effective solution: flying the cars using charters directly to Laos. A decisive suggestion for the client to award the comprehensive project to DP World.

EYEP00116 2024 Belgium Freight forwarding Air Airplane Car Automotive Lige Maybach
“At DP World, we put our customers’ needs at the heart of everything we do. While we may be a newcomer to freight forwarding, our team consists of seasoned experts with a proven track record. Handling high-value cargo like the Mercedes-Maybach fleet is about more than transportation—it’s about protecting our customer’s reputation and investment. Our experienced team worked closely with the customer to ensure that we are creating a seamless solution that addresses their concerns and simplifies the process. By combining our global freight forwarding network with deep local expertise, we proactively anticipated challenges, streamlined every step from factory floor to final delivery, and ensured full transparency throughout. This project showcases how our global network and deep local knowledge allow us to deliver on our promise—every time.”

Robert Frei

Global SVP of Freight Forwarding, DP World

Showcase in airfreight forwarding

Being a relative newcomer to the freight forwarding business, the Mercedes-Maybach project provided the perfect opportunity to showcase DP World’s distinctive capabilities to the outside world, with over 200 freight forwarding offices established worldwide in a short time. The size of the assignment and all the complexities involved in coordinating a logistics project that spanned multiple countries and involved numerous stakeholders made it an ideal challenge for the organization to take on.

First of all, it was important to earn the trust of the Mercedes-Benz organization in Germany where the Maybachs are produced. The company had long-standing relationships with several established freight forwarders and was thus unfamiliar with DP World as an airfreight specialist. To reassure the client and build trust, DP World’s team dedicated significant time to detailing processes and providing transparency at every step.

OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES

After all this careful preliminary work, including constant coordination with all parties and arranging all formalities, the actual operational execution involved meticulous arrangements with Mercedes- Benz to ensure that the cars were prepared on time and could be transported to the highest standards. It was decided to load the cars onto closed trucks to optimally protect them during their journey from the factory to the airport. Each vehicle was treated with care, recognizing that any damage or delay would affect the success of the entire project.

ON TIME, IN PERFECT CONDITION

Once the cars arrived at Liège Airport in Belgium, DP World's chosen hub for this mission, the real test began. The choice of Liège was strategic, as the airport offered lower landing fees, fast handling times and efficient customs processes compared to German airports. The cars were carefully placed and strapped on pallets and then loaded onto the chartered aircraft, safely secured for the flight to Laos.

A first plane departed with 16 cars, and the second followed with the remaining 15. The timely arrival of the Mercedes-Maybach fleet in Laos was met with excitement. All formalities had already been proactively fulfilled by DP World here too. An expert team was on hand to receive the cars and deliver them on time after inspection. The client in Laos had high stakes in this project, as the cars were to be used to transport dignitaries from all over the world during the ASEAN Summit, an important international event hosted in the country. Ensuring that the vehicles arrived on time and in perfect condition was really critical to the client's success.

SEAMLESS COOPERATION KEY TO SUCCESS

Reflecting on the project, the key to its success was above all the seamless cooperation between DP World's airfreight organization, local offices and subcontractors. Even in high-pressure situations that sometimes required quick decisions. Together they showed themselves capable of managing such massive projects. Always with the client's interests at the forefront and alternative plans ready to meet expectations should the situation require it.

The Mercedes-Maybach transportation project is thus a testament to DP World's ability to operate at the highest level in a highly competitive airfreight market. The project went beyond moving cars; it was about building trust, proving reliability and showcasing excellence. These qualities are already opening doors for future business; following this project, DP World has been named one of Mercedes-Benz’s five nominated freight forwarding partners.

Our 10 essential steps for success

  1. Proactive collaboration with the client to create the best possible solution
  2. Building a dedicated expert team across Europe and Asia
  3. Selecting the most capable and flexible subcontractors
  4. Cost-effectiveness and efficiency as a given
  5. Continuous coordination with buyer and seller from start to finish
  6. Designing the most efficient transport route from factory floor to customer door
  7. Timely organization of all necessary formalities
  8. Ensuring smooth execution with ongoing support to address any unexpected changes
  9. Providing transparency across the board
  10. And of course always putting the customer first

The result: a flawless project, delivered on time to a satisfied client.