Volkswagen Group of America Inc.
10/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/02/2024 11:47
Volkswagen Group of America opens new Gulf Coast hub in Freeport, Texas
Oct 2, 2024
- Port Freeport will import and process up to 140,000 vehicles annually, supporting a third of VWGoA's U.S. retail dealers
- Wider port channels in Freeport accommodate Volkswagen's larger liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels, which help advance the company's sustainability goals
- More than 110 direct jobs were created to support facility operations
Reston, VA, Freeport, TX- Volkswagen Group of America (VWGoA) today announced the grand opening of a new port facility at Port Freeport in Texas. This new Gulf Coast hub represents an approximate $114 million investment in the Freeport area and creates more than 110 new direct jobs in addition to indirect jobs in trucking, rail, and vessel operations.
Port Freeport will import and process up to 140,000 vehicles for Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche, supporting approximately 300 dealers in the Central and Western United States. After consolidating two smaller facilities in Houston and Midlothian, Texas to create the new Freeport location, VWGoA now operates seven ports in the United States, including Baltimore, MD; Benicia, CA; Davisville, RI; Jacksonville, FL; San Diego, CA; and the Volkswagen Assembly Plant in Chattanooga, TN.
Port Freeport's wider channel allows for the use of larger liquified natural gas (LNG) vessels which help advance Volkswagen Group of America's sustainability goals.
"Opening this new port facility in Freeport helps create a more resilient and more sustainable supply chain for many years to come," said Anu Goel, Executive Vice President, Group After Sales & Services, VWGoA. "Additionally, Freeport's easier access to rail and trucking will make our logistics operations more streamlined and efficient."
KDC and PRP worked in collaboration with VWGoA and Port Freeport to develop the site.
To support further development of the local talent pool, VWGoA has partnered with Brazosport College in nearby Lake Jackson to create a new credentialed program in logistics with an emphasis on Vehicle Logistics operations. Developing programs like this in collaboration with local stakeholders will support future transportation, storage, and distribution job opportunities across Brazoria County and at Port Freeport.
About Volkswagen Group of America
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. VWGoA houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen and is the sole importer and distributer of Bugatti and Rimac vehicles in the U.S. VWGoA also operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee which produces Volkswagen brand vehicles including the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and the ID.4. VW Credit, Inc. (doing business as "Volkswagen Financial Services"), a wholly owned subsidiary of VWGoA, provides financial services and innovative mobility solutions. Electrify America, another VWGoA subsidiary, is building a publicly accessible, nation-wide electric vehicle charging network. VWGoA's autonomous vehicle (AV) technology subsidiary, ADMT LLC, tests and proves AV technology. VWGoA's headquarters are in Reston, Va. The company has approximately 10,000 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through a network of approximately 1,000 independent dealers.
About Port Freeport
Port Freeport is a leading port in the export of crude oil and natural gas liquids and ranks nationally as 6th in chemicals, 15th in total foreign waterborne tonnage, and 26th in containers. A 2022 Economic Impact Study by Texas A&M Transportation Institute revealed that, nationally, the Freeport Harbor Channel generates 266,300 jobs and has a total economic output of $157.3 billion. Port Freeport serves Alliera, Atlantic Container Lines, AMPORTS, BASF, Chiquita Fresh N.A., Dole Fresh Fruit, The Dow Chemical Company, Enterprise Products Partners, ExxonMobil, Freeport LNG, Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Glovis, Grimaldi Lines, Hoegh Autoliners, Kirby Marine, Liberty Global Logistics, Linde, MEGlobal, NYK RORO, Phillips 66, Riviana Foods, Inc., Sallaum Lines, Tenaris, U.S Department of Energy, Volkswagen Group of America, and Vulcan Materials Company.
About PRP
PRP is a real estate investment management company with a focus on mission-critical corporate headquarters facilities leased to investment-grade companies, logistic facilities, high-street retail properties, multifamily apartment communities, data centers and office properties. PRP's portfolio of corporate headquarters facilities include the headquarters for Honeywell, Broadcom, Cencora/AmerisourceBergen, Exxon/Pioneer Natural Resources and FedEx Office, and logistic facilities for Amazon, Lowe's, Techtronics and VW. Founded in 2005, PRP executes value add strategies and asset manages a national portfolio of assets on behalf of its institutional investors, family offices and financial institutions. PRP manages its apartment investments through PRP REM, its property management subsidiary, which is solely focused on PRP's portfolio of apartment properties. PRP has proven expertise in selecting and managing attractive risk adjusted real estate investments located in major markets throughout the United States. Since its formation, the company has invested in 56 assets with a value in excess of $6 Billion in all property sectors. PRP is privately held and is headquartered in Washington, DC. PRP is a creative buyer and seller of real estate and considers a variety of equity and debt investment structures. For more information on PRP, please visit PRPREI.COM.
For 35 years, KDC has been a national leading real estate development and investment firm. In that time, KDC has developed more than 150 corporate build-to-suit office, data center and industrial projects totaling approximately 40 million square feet. KDC's portfolio includes projects for FedEx, JPMorgan Chase, Liberty Mutual, Raytheon, State Farm (Dallas and Atlanta campuses), Toyota North America and Volkswagen. KDC is committed to supporting the nonprofit community through the KDC Cares Program, which includes development services of new facilities and financial support. KDC is headquartered in Dallas and is supported by a national team with offices in Dunwoody, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
"VW", "Volkswagen", all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.