JaxPort and Volkswagen Group of America announced a deal Aug. 4 that will keep the automaker’s import facility and Southeastern distribution center in Jacksonville.
Volkswagen renewed its contract for three years with two one-year options, JaxPort said in a news release. VW has been operating at JaxPort since 2015.
“We are pleased that a global company like Volkswagen continues to experience success in Jacksonville,” JaxPort CEO Eric Green said in the release.
“This agreement allows JaxPort to build on our already strong reputation for vehicle handling excellence while delivering on our commitment to attract and retain quality jobs for Northeast Florida,” he said.
Volkswagen uses about 80 acres at the port to import, export and process new Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley and Porsche vehicles. It also has a 260,000-square-foot parts distribution center there and employs a total of 100 people.
The news release said VW chose to renew its contract because of JaxPort’s “experience and reputation in the auto business, AMPORTS excellent track record as a vehicle processor, and the port’s connections and proximity to consumers in the region.”
Amports is a vehicle processing company.
“Jacksonville has been a good home base for our Southeast U.S. distribution operations,” Mark Ilijanic, Volkswagen Group of America senior vice president for parts and vehicle logistics, said in the release.
“Our partnerships with the port and our service providers in Northeast Florida are very strong and we are proud of the positive economic impact our operations have on this community.”
JaxPort is the second-largest vehicle handling port in the U.S., the release said.