The DHL Group has detailed plans to enhance its end-to-end EV logistics and supply chain solutions for the Asia Pacific market, following the opening of three Electric Vehicle (EV) Centers of Excellence (COEs) within the region in 2024. These new facilities are looking to build on DHL’s offering of customized solutions covering capital equipment for new EV-related factories, inbound-to-manufacturing (I2M), finished vehicles and aftermarket logistics in the Asia Pacific region.
Through its COEs, DHL is aiming to showcase its existing expertise in EV logistics, capability, and resources while demonstrating its broader commitment to further enhance its EV offerings. The centers today cover various solutions, offering modular and integrated end-to-end logistics across the EV supply chain. The Asia Pacific EV COEs are located in China, Singapore and Indonesia, and are connected to DHL’s existing COEs in countries such as Italy, the UK, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.
These centers, altogether, will be supported by further COEs that DHL is looking to establish in further countries with an existing EV footprint, including India, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. While establishing these facilities, the DHL Group will continue focusing on the EV sector, with the New Energy sector identified as a key growth area in its Strategy 2030.
While highlighting plans for its new EV COEs, DHL outlined the benefits they can bring to OEMs and suppliers alike. For companies expanding their mining of EV battery minerals and battery manufacturing operations globally, DHL can help by managing the full process, from capital equipment logistics to the supply of battery materials such as electrolytes and processed minerals.
Another example of the customized EV solutions showcased at the new EV COEs was DHL’s capabilities in the door-to-door storage and transportation of EV batteries and parts. Control towers oversee these solutions, managing the suppliers and tracking end-to-end temperature, humidity, and geolocalization data to ensure safety and performance. At the assembly plant, DHL supports in-plant logistics solutions, such as processing the arrival of material from vendors, storing, picking, and kitting.
For the transport of finished EVs, the COEs will facilitate EV-in-container solutions for mass market distribution as well as air freight services for prototypes and critical vehicle shipments. Across 2024, DHL delivered soon-to-be-launched vehicle prototypes from China to Europe, including customized boxes, dangerous goods (DG) checks, and the management of export clearance. At the destination, additional finished vehicle services for pre-delivery inspection and yard management have been implemented in several geographies.
