May 20, 2009

AutoPort Signs 10-Year Lease With the Port of Wilmington

WILMINGTON – Governor Jack Markell announced on Wednesday a 10-year, multimillion dollar 42-acre land lease deal between Trans Cargo LLC & AutoPort, Inc., subsidiary companies of AutoPort North America, and the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC). This agreement will keep Trans Cargo LLC & AutoPort, Inc. as Port of Wilmington tenants through 2018.

AutoPort Inc. is an ISO 9002 certified full-service automotive conversion, restyling and processing center located adjacent to the Port of Wilmington. Trans Cargo is the terminal operating arm of AutoPort and together they prepare over 100,000 automobiles, trucks and oversized rolling stock units annually for export onboard specially built automobile and truck carriers to Middle Eastern, African and Mediterranean markets through the Port of Wilmington.

“The only way we are going to address the challenges facing Delaware is by growing our economy so companies like AutoPort can thrive and create jobs to get Delawareans back to work,” Gov. Markell said. “AutoPort is an outstanding Delaware company and it is great news that AutoPort will be remaining at the Port of Wilmington for the next decade. I was delighted to visit AutoPort in February to announce the company would be receiving a grant to help train workers to convert traditional cars into electric vehicles. Delaware must have a public policy that places sustainability at the forefront of our economic development efforts. My administration is committed to working with companies like AutoPort to keep Delaware on the leading edge of the Green Economy.”

A recent economic impact analysis by Martin & Assoc. for the Port of Wilmington credits AutoPort’s related cargo with the creation of 675 jobs, $36 million in business revenue and $2.6 million in local and regional taxes.