Expanding global portfolio of EV Centers of Excellence by theGroup
DHL, the leading global brand in the logistics sector, has openedits latest electric vehicle (EV) Center of Excellence in Shanghai,China to support EV companies and its related sectors to grow theirpresence locally and globally. This marks the Group’s first EVCenter of Excellence in China, the largest global EV market,following locations in key regions across the globe includingIndonesia, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates and the UnitedKingdom.
The Shanghai EV Centre of Excellence is managed by DHL GlobalForwarding, and developed in close cooperation with Team EV of DHLCustomer Solutions and Innovation (CSI), DHL Express and DHL SupplyChain. The facility specializes in seamless and integratedend-to-end logistics for EV products, including batteries, electricmotors, charging infrastructure and more. It has a dedicated teamof specialists to ensure efficient handling, storage andtransportation while meeting the unique needs of the EVsector.
“In 2023, Chinese automakers dominated the global EV market,manufacturing over half of the EVs on the roads worldwide andbecoming the largest car exporter. As a battery powerhouse, Chinais home to six of the top ten EV battery manufacturers, supplyingclose to 60 percent of the world’s battery cells. Our deepunderstanding of the logistical complexities in the EV industry,coupled with our expansive global network, positions us tofacilitate this next chapter of international expansion for ChineseEV firms. With the Shanghai EV Center of Excellence, we aim to bethe partner of choice for customers seeking international businessgrowth,” said Niki Frank, CEO of DHL Global ForwardingAPAC.
“It takes an entire ecosystem to support the growth of Chinese EVmakers as they expand globally. As the logistics company for theworld, we have the know-how in the trade policies and customsregulations of various countries. From documents, parts to rawmaterials, DHL is fully capable of providing stable and reliablelogistics support for industry players in China to tap into theoverseas market and help reinforce China’s standing in the globalEV sector,” said Dongming Wu, CEO of DHL Express China.
The burgeoning growth and appetite for EV present specificchallenges for manufacturers, such as the need for strategicstorage solutions at both the origin and destination to manageincreased battery shipments. Additionally, with batteriesclassified as dangerous goods, there are stringent safety andregulatory requirements to navigate.
One of the main features of the Shanghai EV Center of Excellence isthe fully integrated, modular, end-to-end logistics solutions forfinished vehicles and batteries. This comprehensive service suiteincludes:
Domestic pickup with certified transportation service for exportto/from various locations in China
Certified EV-compliant warehousing managed by qualified teamsspecialized in handling all EV-related functions. Warehouses indifferent provinces can handle loading and unloading of lithiumbatteries as well as buyer consolidation for export
Compliant multi-modal international transportation network forbatteries and finished vehicles with end-to-end temperature andhumidity monitoring for international transportation to globalInbound-to Manufacturing (I2M) plants and aftermarket distributioncenters
Storage and sorting solutions at arrival including last-miledelivery using DHL's transport network at destination countries andcustoms clearance
“Through our global team of experts, we collaborate with ourcustomers to design compliant, cost-efficient supply chainstailored to their needs. For example, our Dangerous Goods (DG)specialists have worked with customers to ensure compliant movementof battery cells in line with relevant global and local dangerousgoods regulations. We’ve also worked on rail solutions fordelivering EV powertrains including last-mile delivery withsensor-tested humidity requirements. This is made possible as weuse the combined knowledge of all our EV Centers of Excellenceglobally,” Fathi Tlatli, Global Auto-Mobility SectorPresident at DHL CSI, added.
The Shanghai EV Center of Excellence is supported by DHL GlobalForwarding’s extensive network of 35 branches strategicallypositioned to optimize major gateways across China. It has anetwork of over 50 warehouses and cross-dock facilities with astrong presence in major commercial cities. This includes access towarehouse space to store and handle dangerous goods such asbatteries and finished vehicles for import and export. It will alsohave a team of EV and DG experts working with customers to deliverthe right solutions in an evolving landscape.
The EV Centers of Excellence also embody DHL’s commitment toinnovation, offering environmentally friendly logistics solutionsand advancing clean technology in transport and warehousing. In thesame vein, DHL Global Forwarding has also made strides in itssustainability efforts in China. It has a fleet of over 250electric and hydrogen vehicles in China, operating for a monthlymileage of more than 320,000 miles.
In China, DHL Express had achieved 26% fleet electrification by2023, and has welcomed over 50,000 GoGreen Plus customers by now.It also introduced a fleet of hydrogen energy trucks with localpartners for long haul operations in Shanghai, making China thefirst among the 220 countries and territories within DHL Expressnetwork to do so.
