WWL-Venture+1-2015-Article European Tours
2
Y Trucking, short-sea shipping or even truck towing is often used to get the cars to their location. The logistics of car events can be as challenging to execute as the events themselves. There’s only one chance to get cars to launch events on time, so logistics operations must work efficiently. Elaborate launch events stir the imaginations of both customers and employees. THE PERFECT HANDOVER WORDS JONATHAN EWING Whether to show off the latest models or train employees on the newest features, vehicle roadshows play an es- sential role in showcasing the current crop of automakers’ offerings to the media, customers and dealers alike. ou’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like new cars: Sleek lines, roaring engines, that new car smell – they all elicit an almost childlike wonder for modern- day models. And the latest features in the cars are often mesmerizing elements that one-up the previous year’s model. That’s why automakers host elaborate launch events: to introduce their staff and the rest of the world to the latest car models and series. Getting the cars to the venues, however, isn’t always a smooth ride. Transporting vehicles thousands of kilometres across international borders can be almost as challenging as the overall logistics of the event. Companies often need to hire several logistics firms that speak many languages in order to handle the complex tasks asso- ciated with long-distance shipping, cus- toms and tax clearance. In addition, often only a few test models exist at this stage and the cars must travel surreptitiously so that they remain concealed from the public and competition. Indeed, different modes of transport, such as trucking, short-sea shipping or even truck towing, are necessary to reach nearby and even difficult locations from the Canary or Balearic Islands, to the city centres of Berlin or Barcelona. By outsourcing these activities, automakers can redirect their time and resources to the event itself. CASE IN POINT: Mercedes-Benz needed to deliver more than 300 cars from its fac- tories in Germany to Portugal for 15,000 sales people from 89 countries attending EUROPEAN TOURS the Mercedes Benz Global Training Experi- ence. The German car manufacturer’s world- wide sales force was to be trained on these models at this critical event. “I prefer to use just one logistics com- pany,” says Joachim Grässle, Mercedes-Benz Global Training. “Dealing with four or five companies only increases the possibility that something will go wrong, because the job becomes much more complicated. Having one logistics provider with a good infrastruc- ture and staff to deal with any unexpected problems we might encounter is best.” THE WWL SPAIN OFFICE was tasked with nego- tiating all of the logistical hurdles. The team used 44 trucks to transport the complete fleet for the event from Stuttgart to Faro and back. “For Mercedes and for most other auto manufacturers, press campaigns and dealer events are vital affairs that raise aware- ness for arrival of new car models,” he says. “When you’re doing an event in Faro or in any other part of the world, there’s only one chance to get the cars in place so that means that everyone has to be briefed and the operation has to move like clock-work.” SEE THE ROADSHOW DESTINATIONS ON PAGE 10 ABOUT MULTILINGUAL ASSISTANCE When working within Europe, proper communication requires a staff that can speak many languages, including German, French, Portuguese and English. WWL ’s team speaks 15 European languages, which helps in a variety of tasks including communicating with drivers and custom- ers, local authorities and acting as transla- tors between the customer, local agencies and any other employees onsite. VENTURE 1 2015 9 8 VENTURE 1 2015
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Transcript of WWL-Venture+1-2015-Article European Tours
Y
Trucking, short-sea shipping or even truck towing is often used to get the cars to their location.
The logistics of car events can be as challenging to execute as the
events themselves.
There’s only one chance to get cars to launch events on time,
so logistics operations must work efficiently.
Elaborate launch events stir the
imaginations of both customers and employees.
THE PERFECT HANDOVER
WORDS JONATHAN EWING
Whether to show off the latest models or train employees on the newest features, vehicle roadshows play an es-sential role in showcasing the current crop of automakers’ offerings to the media, customers and dealers alike.
ou’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t like new cars: Sleek lines, roaring engines, that new car smell – they all elicit an almost childlike wonder for modern-day models. And the latest features in the cars are often mesmerizing elements that one-up the previous year’s model.
That’s why automakers host elaborate launch events: to introduce their staff and the rest of the world to the latest car models and series. Getting the cars to the venues, however, isn’t always a smooth ride.
Transporting vehicles thousands of
kilometres across international borders can be almost as challenging as the overall logistics of the event.
Companies often need to hire several logistics firms that speak many languages in order to handle the complex tasks asso-ciated with long-distance shipping, cus-toms and tax clearance. In addition, often only a few test models exist at this stage and the cars must travel surreptitiously so that they remain concealed from the public and competition.
Indeed, different modes of transport,
such as trucking, short-sea shipping or even truck towing, are necessary to reach nearby and even difficult locations from the Canary or Balearic Islands, to the city centres of Berlin or Barcelona.
By outsourcing these activities, automakers can redirect their time and resources to the event itself.
CASE IN POINT: Mercedes-Benz needed to deliver more than 300 cars from its fac-tories in Germany to Portugal for 15,000 sales people from 89 countries attending
EUROPEAN TOURS
the Mercedes Benz Global Training Experi-ence. The German car manufacturer’s world-wide sales force was to be trained on these models at this critical event.
“I prefer to use just one logistics com-pany,” says Joachim Grässle, Mercedes-Benz Global Training. “Dealing with four or five companies only increases the possibility that something will go wrong, because the job becomes much more complicated. Having one logistics provider with a good infrastruc-ture and staff to deal with any unexpected problems we might encounter is best.”
THE WWL SPAIN OFFICE was tasked with nego-tiating all of the logistical hurdles. The team used 44 trucks to transport the complete fleet for the event from Stuttgart to Faro and back.
“For Mercedes and for most other auto manufacturers, press campaigns and dealer events are vital affairs that raise aware-ness for arrival of new car models,” he says. “When you’re doing an event in Faro or in any other part of the world, there’s only one chance to get the cars in place so that means that everyone has to be briefed and the operation has to move like clock-work.”
SEE THE ROADSHOW DESTINATIONS ON PAGE 10
ABOUT MULTILINGUAL ASSISTANCEWhen working within Europe, proper communication requires a staff that can speak many languages, including German, French, Portuguese and English. WWL’s team speaks 15 European languages, which helps in a variety of tasks including communicating with drivers and custom-ers, local authorities and acting as transla-tors between the customer, local agencies and any other employees onsite.
VENTURE 1 2015 98 VENTURE 1 2015
THE PERFECT HANDOVER
“YOU NEED A LOGISTICS COMPANY THAT HAS THE MUSCLE AND BRAINS TO GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATIONS”
Training days – Mercedes-Benz Global Training Experience, Faro, Portugal The Mercedes Benz Global Training department chose Southern Portugal as the venue for the Global Training Experience 2014. In an exclusive area close to Faro, Portugal, the Mercedes event hosted more than 15,000 participants from 89 dif-ferent countries. Participants from the manufac-turer’s worldwide sales organization were trained on new models such as the Mercedes Benz C-Class, GLK-Class and V-Class. WWL Ibérica used 44 trucks to deliver the fleet of vehicles from Stuttgart, Germany to Faro, Portugal and back.
“TO MAKE THE SHOW WORK, IT IS CRITICAL TO USE A COMPANY WITH DEPTH OF LOGISTICS EXPERIENCE AND WHO SOLVES COMPLICATED PROBLEMS, BEING ALWAYS ON TIME WITH NO DAMAGES MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.”
Touring Germany – BMW 2 series Active Tourer Roadshow, Germany, by Department of StyleDuring September and October 2014, auto-manufacturer BMW conducted a roadshow in 10 German cities in order to present its new model BMW 2series Active Tourer to the market. In cooperation with one of Europe’s leading event agencies, Germany-based, Department of Style, WWL developed and carried out the transporta-tion concept for this roadshow. A total of 35 WWL trucks were used to transport the cars between the cities.
Clever driving – Smart Forfour & Smart Fortwo, press event, Barcelona, SpainGerman auto manufacturer Daimler invited international journalists to Barcelona, Spain to present its new models Smart Fourfour and Smart Fourtwo during a two-day-event program featuring test drives and activities. WWL man-aged the logistics and transportation of 106 Smart cars from Stuttgart to Barcelona and back.
Porsche Macan dealer event, Barcelona Porsche’s worldwide dealer event took place in Barcelona. During a two-day-event, participants were able to experience the new Porsche Macan. WWL Ibérica handled the transportation of new Macans (for test driving), Porsche 911s (for the Porsche Driving School) and Porsche shuttle cars for the staff, for the round trip from Stuttgart to Barcelona.
ROADSHOW LOCATIONS
10 VENTURE 1 2015
Mercedes-Benz Global
Training Experience,
FARO, PORTUGAL
Clever driving – Smart
Forfour & Smart Fortwo,
press event BARCELONA,
SPAIN
Porsche Macan dealer
event, BARCELONA,
SPAIN
Touring Germany –
BMW 2 series Active Tourer Roadshow, GERMANY
