Automotive

Finished vehicle driving onto a car transporter

Automotive

Thanks to our high-performance, Europe-wide Automotive RailNet, we can deliver rail logistics for components and finished vehicles as we link car manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and export ports around the continent.

 Benefits for you

  • A single source of rail logistics solutions for components and finished vehicles
  • The perfect combination of rail and road transport for door-to-door deliveries
  • Just-in-time and just-in-sequence deliveries to plants
  • Rail logistics services at our logistics centres and Automotive terminals
  • High-performance battery logistics
  • Fleet of modern freight wagons for every type of vehicle

Facts

  • 1300000 vehicles transported every year

  • 260000 truck loads of car parts by train transported ever year.

  • 285000 tonnes of CO2 the emissions cut by our automotive transport services

Kai-Birnstein
"Managing the entire logistics chain from a single source by integrating a strong rail solution – that's what rail logistics mean to us."

Kai Birnstein, Head of Automotive

Our services for you

A train with car transporters travelling through a green landscape

Automotive RailNet

We use our Automotive RailNet system to provide cross-modal rail logistics solutions that cater to car manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and export ports throughout Europe. Overall, 250 trains use our network every day. Our service covers the entire logistics chain for the car industry, including integrated first and last mile deliveries by truck, transhipment and other rail-related services at our logistics centres.
Multimodal transhipment activities at night

Intermodal shuttle connection

The Trailer Romania Xpress, or short TRX, is our ultra-frequent shuttle connection between Germany and south-east Europe – providing connections in both directions on each route. With daily departures for craneable mega-trailers, containers and swap bodies, we create a multimodal logistics solution in combined transport. If desired, we can also take care of the first and last mile by lorry and thus realise door-to-door solutions from a single source - even for customers without their own rail siding.
Car transporter with loaded finished vehicles

Hubs for efficiency

We consolidate wagon sets arriving from different plants at strategic locations across Europe to form frequent block trains connections, thereby creating flexible solutions that also deliver short transport times. These hubs in high-potential regions also enable us to pool smaller consignments from different suppliers and manufacturers, which is great for moving even more freight from roads to the eco-friendly rail network.

Other solutions for automotive customers

Battery logistics – Cells of the future

We link battery manufacturing with automotive production – through individual, tailor-made transport solutions for lithium-ion cells and battery modules.

Read more
Cargo train transports batteries in Automotive RailNet

Automotive logistics centre – all-round logistics for components

With our logistics centre for the automotive industry in Bremen, we supply a neighbouring automotive plant via a transhipment terminal, a contract logistics warehouse and a trailer yard. Further logistics centres are scheduled for other sites.

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Automotive Logistics Centre site from above

Automotive terminals – rail logistics services as a complete package

Our terminals offer a comprehensive portfolio of logistics, technical and other services. They combine the advantages of transport connections by rail, road and inland waterway.

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The Auto Terminal Bremen from above

Innovative car transporter for the vehicles of tomorrow

The Laaeffrs 561 car carrier is our innovative transport solution for taller and heavier vehicles.

Read more
Open car transporter with two loading decks and a ray of sunshine

News

Car transport in the Automotive RailNet
Automotive
15.04.2024

A look at our industries: the future of automotive logistics

The automotive industry is undergoing its biggest transformation since the introduction of assembly line production. This industry portrait sheds light on how DB Cargo is adapting to the trends and meeting the challenges, with a focus on battery logistics and electric car distribution.
Read more
Car carrier wagons with vehicles at the Opel plant
Automotive
05.01.2024

Full capacity utilisation, full success: New round-trip concept for Stellantis

It's the holy grail of rail logistics providers everywhere: freight trains running loaded on every journey. The reality is often quite different, as trains usually transport goods to one destination and then travel empty to the next pick-up address. Not so with the transport recently launched by Stellantis and DB Cargo Logistics – a great partnership with a recipe for success.
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Battery transport on rail
Automotive
13.07.2023

High-capacity battery transport by rail

Electric vehicles are among the most important and visible factors in the transition to new drive technologies. But a true measurement of their carbon emissions should include not only the energy used to charge them but also the vehicles' production and transport – a view on which DB Cargo Logistics and Volkswagen Group Logistics agree.
Read more

Downloads

Batterielogistik_Flyer

Brochure Battery logistics

PDF | 304,4 KB

Flyer Trailer Romania Xpress_EN

Brochure Trailer Romania Xpress

PDF | 354,4 KB

Equipment_Flyer

Brochure Car carrier wagon 561

PDF | 1,7 MB

Get in touch with our expert.

Porträt Kai Birnstein

Kai Birnstein

Head of Automotive

Telephone +49 6107 509-0

E-Mail logistics.rail@deutschebahn.com