Stellantis is launching a new maritime logistics service to supply parts to its Ellesmere Port manufacturing plant that will reduce CO2 emissions in its supply chain.
The Ellesmere Port plant is currently undergoing a major transformation with £100 million investment to manufacture a compact electric van (Vauxhall/Opel Combo Electric, Peugeot e-Partner and Citroën e-Berlingo) from Spring 2023.
A number of the sheet metal parts and components required for production will be supplied from partner companies that are based near the Vigo plant in Spain.
The purpose of the new service is to improve supply chain flows to Ellesmere Port through partnership with Suardíaz and Peel Ports Group.
Starting from June 2023, the new 891 nautical miles maritime route will take an estimated 14,700 lorry journeys off the roads of the UK and continental Europe annually saving around 17.5 million kilometres of road travel, the company said.
Each ship will be able to take up to 95 lorries whose cargo will comprise around 47 different part lines of sheet metal parts and components that will be used in the assembly of the all-electric compact vans. The packaging used to transport the parts is then taken back to Vigo Port on the return leg to be reused for subsequent trips. The journey time from Vigo Port to Queen Elizabeth II Eastham docks is around 50 hours – a comparable time to the current road journey.
Compared to road transport, the direct maritime route has 30% lower CO2 emissions over the course of a full year as well as 37% less energy consumption, the company said.
Suardíaz will manage the end-to-end logistical service from one plant to another. Peel Ports will provide a 9.4-acre site at the Queen Elizabeth II Eastham dock to enable this new maritime route.
“We are looking at all aspects of our value chain in order to improve sustainability and efficiency, in line with our Dare Forward 2030 Strategic Plan,” said Paul Willcox, Senior Vice-President, UK Country Manager, Stellantis.
Speaking on the occasion, Juan Riva, President of Suardíaz said: “By avoiding trucks on the road and with the forthcoming addition of biofuels to our ships, we are contributing to sustainability in the same spirit under which Stellantis electric vehicles are manufactured.”
David Huck, Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports Group added: “Our co-investment of £10 million into QEII Eastham Dock with Suardíaz will create a new Green Automotive Hub for Ellesmere Port which will increase efficiency while reducing road congestion and carbon emissions.”