(February 8, 2022) BALTIMORE, Md.  — BMW of North America and Tradepoint Atlantic today celebrated the grand opening of the new BMW vehicle distribution center (VDC) at the Tradepoint Atlantic Terminal in Sparrows Point, Md.  The 35-acre site at 1301 Shipyard Road, in Sparrows Point includes a new purpose-built 75,000 square foot building, nearly doubling the size of the BMW’s previous location on Broening Highway.
 
The new BMW vehicle distribution center will support more than 125 BMW and Mini dealers in the Central and Eastern Regions of the U.S.  In addition to receiving vehicles from manufacturing facilities and acting as a distribution hub, the site also performs vehicle inspections, repairs (mechanical, paint, and body), accessory installations, vehicle programming, and maintenance. These additional functions are critical in ensuring that each vehicle meets the BMW Group’s high-quality standards before final delivery to dealer lots.
 
“Vehicle distribution centers are a critically important part of our operations, helping to support our dealer network, and ultimately in getting vehicles into customers hands,” said Claus Eberhart, vice president, after-sales, BMW of North America.  “With the ability to process up to 100,000 vehicles annually, the BMW vehicle distribution center at Tradepoint Atlantic Terminal will help us meet growing demand for BMW and MINI vehicles in the region.”


 
The new location at Tradepoint Atlantic provides BMW with several logistical advantages, including access to deep water berths and proximity to rail and highway transportation. The repurposing of what was once an integrated steel mill and implementation of active recycling and waste management programs align with BMW Group’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. Highlights of these sustainability efforts on site include smart lighting throughout the building, a water reclamation system in the facility’s car wash, aluminum, plastic, and cardboard recycling, and a purpose-built design to create an efficient workflow and reduce vehicle movement and emissions.
 
Next month, BMW will introduce two all-new, fully electric vehicles in the U.S. — the BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle and the BMW i4, four-door Gran Coupe.  Both vehicles were on display at the event as a preview to dealers and other stakeholders in attendance. 
 
 BMW of North America currently operates vehicle distribution centers in New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia, Texas, and California, serving a dealer body of 350 BMW and 105 Mini dealers nationwide. The U.S. is also home to the largest BMW production facility in the world, located in Spartanburg, SC, which has made BMW the leading exporter of vehicles from the U.S. by value for the past seven years.