DHL Worldwide Express and Deutsche Postbank, both part of Deutsche Post Worldnet (DPWN) and Fiat Auto today unveiled a major cooperation focused on Fiat Auto’s European spare parts logistics operating through a new company. Fiat Auto takes 19% ownership in the new venture with 19.9% held by DHL Worldwide Express, 29.1% held by Deutsche Postbank, and 32% taken by other financial investors.

The cooperation was conceived by Fiat Auto to optimize spare parts supply chain management by reinforcing an integrated European approach. DHL Worldwide Express brings its expertise in logistics services and network management, as part of DPWN. Fiat Auto’s annual European turnover in spare parts is around 2.5 billion euro.

Roberto Testore, Fiat Auto Chief Executive Officer, commented: “At Fiat, our driving force is a total commitment to delivering the best possible service to our dealership network. This cooperation gives Fiat Auto access to advanced logistics network solutions and accelerates its supply-chain reengineering to improve asset turnover and to reduce logistic cost.”

Wulf von Schimmelmann, Chairman of the Management Board of Deutsche Postbank, stresses that “this cooperation makes it clear that successful international outsourcing of logistics services nowadays includes financial services as well. Anyone wishing to rely on his own core competences must place the financial chain in professional hands just like the supply chain. For DPWN this will result in excellent synergy effects and cross-selling potential because here logistics experts and financial experts are seated around the same table to react on the individual needs of our customers.”

Uwe Dorken, Executive Chairman, DHL Worldwide Express comments: “This new cooperation builds on a long standing and successful working relationship between DHL and the Fiat Group. The announcement clearly strengthens the position of DPWN as the provider of choice for express based solutions to the automotive industry and proves our desire and commitment to a partnership approach.”

Fiat Auto
With revenues of over 25 billion euos and 74 thousands employees, Fiat Auto operates in the most important worldwide markets with the brands Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo. Founded over a century ago, Fiat has today 19 production facilities, 15 R&D centers and 3,414 dealers. The Group also controls Ferrari and Maserati, which manufacture sport and luxury cars.

DHL Worldwide Express
DHL Worldwide Express is the pioneer and market leader of the global air express industry with an international network linking more than 80,000 destinations serving 635,000 cities in 228 countries and employing over 68,000 people.

Deutsche Postbank
As a part of Deutsche Post World Net, Postbank with over 10 million clients and a balance-sheet total of 134 billion euro and 10,000 employees is one of the largest banks in Germany for private and corporate customers. Through its partnership with Deutsche Post it has a more concentrated network of branches than any other bank in Germany. At the same time, Postbank is among the market leaders in direct banking. Postbank is keen to significantly strengthen the relationship with its 400,000 commercial clients.