The initial shipment, destined for Chisinau, Moldova, marks DP World’s first end-to-end vehicle rail operation in Europe. From Aiud, the vehicles will continue by road to their final destination.
The company plans to use Aiud as a regional distribution hub for finished vehicles serving Romania and neighboring markets.
The pilot is part of DP World’s broader strategy to strengthen Aiud’s role as a regional automotive logistics hub. The company plans to introduce a regular service operating twice a month in the second half of 2026.
DP World also intends to establish similar links between Aiud and other European ports, including Koper in Slovenia.
According to the company, the shift to intermodal transport can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 55% compared with equivalent long-haul road transport. It can also reduce exposure to cost volatility linked to changing European road transport regulations and rising road usage charges in transit countries, while improving predictability by limiting cross-border administrative complexity.
“Automotive companies are looking to reduce their exposure to long-distance road transport. By combining rail and road in a single integrated service, we are giving customers greater reliability, lower emissions and a solution that can scale as trade flows across Europe continue to evolve,” said Dragos Calin, Director Freight, Balkans at DP World.
“Our strategy is to build a more connected European logistics network, creating new trade corridors and giving customers greater choice in how they move goods across the continent. Aiud is an important part of that vision, creating new links between western European ports and markets across southeastern Europe,” said Svitlana Balaban, CEO of DP World Romania.
The Aiud multimodal logistics terminal opened in 2024 following a EUR21 million investment by DP World. The 180,000 sqm facility is located next to the A10 motorway and connected to Romania’s national rail network, offering container handling, storage, customs and freight-forwarding services.