(From left: Geert Pauwels, CEO Lineas; Daan Schalck, CEO North Sea Port; Stefan Fesser, CEO Volvo Cars Gent; Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director FCCC & EU-China Business Association; Zhai Ruopeng, Vice General Manager ITL Group)

On July 4, 2019, the first mixed transportation train carrying 190 Chinese-made Volvo’s arrived in the North Sea Port in Ghent, Belgium. Departing in Xi’an, China, the train covers a distance of 10,000km in 22 days to bring the cars to their new destination. The train will run twice a week and will transport XC60s from Xi’an to Ghent and will return to the port of Xi’an carrying XC90s, V90s and V60s. Zhai Ruopeng, vice general manager of Xi’an’s International Inland Port Investment and Development Group, emphasized the importance of the One Belt One Road project and praised the city of Gent for taking part in the initiative. “Our aim is to deliver our vehicles as quickly as possible to the final customer. By establishing the new rail transport directly to Volvo Car Gent we will reduce the lead time to customers up to 50%. This demonstrates our commitment to drive efficient and sustainable solutions along the entire supply chain” says Steffan Fesser, CEO of Volvo Cars Gent.