Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., today, joined Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold, state and local dignitaries, as well as AMPORTS, one of the largest auto processors in North America, to announce the Port of Jacksonville, Fla. (JAXPORT) as VWGoA’s Southeastern U.S. port.
Factory-new Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicles will be imported and distributed through the port. VWGoA plans on transporting 100,000 cars within one year, and approximately 550,000 units in the next five years through JAXPORT.
“Floridians have demonstrated a strong support for the Volkswagen Group of America brands, and selecting the Port of Jacksonville as our Southeastern U.S. port is part of our growth strategy in the Southeast. In fact, the Volkswagen Group sells more vehicles here than nearly every other state—Florida is our second largest market behind California,” said David Geanacopoulos, executive vice president for public affairs and general counsel, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “In utilizing JAXPORT, we will be able to bring Audi, Bentley and Volkswagen products closer to our Florida customers, and provide enhanced customer service in this key market. We are proud to be joining Gov. Scott in making this exciting announcement.”
“The Scott Administration has made historic investments in Florida’s ports because we know that strong infrastructure is key to making Florida a global leader in international trade,” said Governor Scott. “With this exciting project at JAXPORT, Volkswagen Group of America has chosen the perfect place to expand operations and utilize a growing and talented workforce.”
Exports out of JAXPORT include the Chattanooga-manufactured Volkswagen Passat, and later, Volkswagen’s new seven-passenger SUV, which will also be built in Chattanooga. Some of the cars brought into the port include the North American Car of the Year, Volkswagen Golf and Golf GTI. Vehicles arriving into the port will be distributed within Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi.
The selection of JAXPORT adds to VWGoA’s 260,000-square-foot parts distribution facility in Jacksonville, Fla., which opened in 2009, and services 118 Volkswagen and Audi dealers in the Southeastern U.S. VWGoA will begin to import and distribute Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicles through the 85-acre JAXPORT facility on May 1.