Vehicle Transfer

At E Freight, we specialize in customized vehicle transfer solutions—whether you’re shipping luxury cars, commercial vehicles, or industrial machinery. This case study highlights how we successfully transported 50 high-end luxury cars (including Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and Porsche 911) from Stuttgart, Germany, to Singapore, meeting the client’s strict requirements for safety, timeliness, and transparency.

Our client is a leading luxury car dealership in Singapore, with a focus on importing premium European vehicles for high-net-worth customers. For this project, they had two critical needs:

1. Zero Damage Guarantee: The luxury cars (valued at over €2.5 million total) required absolute protection—no scratches, dents, or mechanical issues during transit.
2. On-Time Delivery: The vehicles needed to arrive before the Singapore Motor Show, a key sales event, to avoid missing potential orders.
3. Full Transparency: Real-time updates on the cars’ location and condition, as the client needed to share progress with their customers.

The 50 luxury cars awaiting transfer at the client’s Stuttgart warehouse—each with custom paint jobs and high-end interiors requiring extra care.

Shipping luxury vehicles internationally comes with unique hurdles, and this project was no exception:

• Fragile Cargo: Luxury cars have delicate exteriors (e.g., carbon fiber parts, matte paint) and sensitive electronics that can be damaged by vibration, moisture, or rough handling.
• Long Transit Route: The journey from Stuttgart to Hamburg port (Germany), sea freight to Singapore Port, and final road delivery to the client’s showroom.
• Regulatory Compliance: Both Germany and Singapore have strict customs regulations for vehicle imports, including emissions testing, duty clearance, and documentation verification.

To address these challenges, we designed a end-to-end, safety-first solution tailored to luxury vehicle transport. Here’s how we executed each stage:

Before shipping, our team took meticulous steps to ensure the cars were ready for transit:

• Vehicle Inspection & Documentation: We conducted a 360° inspection of each car, taking high-resolution photos and noting every detail (e.g., existing minor scratches, tire pressure, battery status) to create a “condition report" signed by the client.
• Custom Protective Covering: Each car was wrapped in a specialized, scratch-resistant film (used exclusively for luxury vehicles) and fitted with foam padding on door edges, bumpers, and side mirrors to prevent friction damage.
• Mechanical Prep: We disconnected the cars’ batteries (to avoid drainage during long transit) and filled fuel tanks to 1/4 capacity (per safety regulations for sea freight).

An E Freight technician carefully applies scratch-resistant film to a Porsche 911’s hood, ensuring no damage during loading and transit.

From Stuttgart to Hamburg (a 700km journey), we used specialized car carriers designed for luxury vehicles:

• Enclosed Trailers: Unlike open carriers, our enclosed trailers protect cars from rain, dust, and road debris. Each trailer was equipped with air suspension to minimize vibration—critical for preserving the cars’ delicate suspensions.
• Secure Loading: We used hydraulic ramps to load the cars onto the trailer, with each vehicle secured by four heavy-duty straps (attached to the chassis, not the body) to prevent shifting during transit.
• Dedicated Driver: A certified E Freight driver with 10+ years of luxury vehicle transport experience was assigned to the route, with real-time GPS tracking so the client could monitor progress.

For the 6-week sea journey from Hamburg to Singapore, we chose a premium roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel—the safest option for vehicle transport:

• Climate-Controlled Hold: The vessel’s cargo hold was set to a constant 22°C (72°F) to prevent moisture buildup (which can damage leather interiors) and extreme temperature changes.
• 24/7 Surveillance: The hold was monitored by CCTV, with E Freight’s sea logistics team checking in daily to confirm the cars’ safety.
• Customs Support: Our compliance team handled all documentation (e.g., export certificates, Singapore import permits, duty calculations) to avoid delays at both ports.

E Freight’s team oversees the loading of luxury cars into the climate-controlled hold of the RoRo vessel in Hamburg Port.

Once the vessel arrived in Singapore, we completed the final leg of the journey with precision:

• Quick Customs Clearance: Thanks to our AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification, the cars were cleared through Singapore Customs in just 48 hours (vs. the industry average of 3–5 days).
• Last-Mile Transport: We used enclosed, air-suspended trucks to transport the cars from the port to the client’s showroom. Each truck was escorted by an E Freight representative to ensure no detours or delays.
• Post-Transport Inspection: Upon arrival, we conducted a second 360° inspection with the client, comparing the cars’ condition to the pre-transport report. All 50 vehicles were delivered in pristine condition—no damage, no issues.

The 50 luxury cars are unloaded at the client’s Singapore showroom, ready for the Motor Show—delivered 3 days ahead of schedule.

“We’ve worked with multiple logistics providers for vehicle transfer, but E Freight’s attention to detail is unmatched. Every step—from the protective wrapping to the real-time tracking—made us feel confident our luxury cars were in safe hands. Delivering all 50 vehicles on time and in perfect condition helped us exceed our sales goals at the Motor Show. We’ll definitely partner with E Freight again."

— John Tan, Operations Director, [Client’s Luxury Car Dealership]

• Specialized Expertise: We have a dedicated team with 15+ years of experience in vehicle transport, including luxury cars, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles.
• Safety-Centric Equipment: From enclosed carriers to climate-controlled sea holds, we use tools designed to protect your vehicles at every stage.
• End-to-End Support: We handle everything—inspection, packaging, customs, tracking, and delivery—so you don’t have to coordinate with multiple vendors.

Need to Transfer Vehicles Internationally?

Contact E Freight’s vehicle transport team today for a free quote, or learn more about our services for car dealerships, collectors, and businesses.