Air Airplane Car Automotive Liege Maybach

LUXURY ON TIME

For the ASEAN Summit 2024, Mercedes Maybach needed to get 31 brand new cars from the production plant in Germany to Laos, swiftly. DP World Freight Forwarding went into top gear to ensure their success.

We delivered perfectly from factory floor to summit door, 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.

Belgium Freight forwarding Air Airplane Car Automotive Liege Maybach

THE CHALLENGE

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.

A WINNING STRATEGY

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.

Ensuring that the vehicles arrived on time and in perfect condition was really critical to the client's success.

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OUR RESPONSE

  • EYEP00125 2024 Belgium Airplane Car maybach

    A perfect fit.

    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.

  • EYEP00130 2024 Belgium Freight maybach

    Building trust.

    First of all, it was important to earn the trust of the Mercedes-Benz organization in Germany where the Maybachs are produced.

    Mercedes-Benz 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.

    • Man in tire repair factory taking note

    THE PLAN

    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.

    Global knowledge.
    Local expertise.

    Our experienced team worked closely with the customer to ensure that we created a seamless solution that addressed their concerns and simplified 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.

    DP WORLD’S
    BESPOKE SOLUTION

    This project showcases how our global network and deep local knowledge allow us to deliver on our promise - every time.

  • EYEP00151 2024 Belgium Freight maybach

    Preparation

    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. 

  • Branded container being placed on truck

    Protection

    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.

  • case study maybach

    Speed

    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. 

  • EYEP00129 2024 Belgium Freight maybach

    Secure

    The cars were carefully placed and strapped on pallets and then loaded onto the chartered aircraft, safely secured for the flight to Laos.

  • EYEP00139 2024 Belgium Airplane maybach

    Arrival

    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. 

    • SUCCESS.
    DELIVERED.

  • EYEP00129 2024 Belgium Freight maybach

    Managing Massive.

    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.

  • Air Airplane Car Automotive Liege Maybach up

    Showcasing Excellence

    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.

    • Airplane taking off

    REVIEW

    OUR 10 ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR
    SUCCESS

    by DP World

    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
    Robert Frei

    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. 

    Robert Frei

    Global SVP of Freight Forwarding, DP World

    THE RESULT

    A flawless project,<br>delivered on time to a <br>satisfied client and DP World named one of Mercedes-Benz’s five nominated freight forwarding partners.