OREANDA-NEWS. June 24, 2010. GEFCO and Russian Transport Line will create a joint venture Smart Supply Systems (SSS) to be specialized in auto parts supplies.

According to Mr. Zbylut, the joint venture will be operational within a few weeks. Alexander Larin was appointed General Director of Smart Supply Systems, which has been in negotiations with automakers. The company is going to attain leading position in the Russian market of distribution of automotive components. The new company will use the infrastructure of RTL, and a GEFCO warehouse facility in Podolsk (Moscow region). SSS will provide a full range of services for distributors of auto parts, including international transportation, customs clearance, handling and delivery to retail customers.

Russian Transport Lines LLC was established in 2004 as a full cycle logistics company. Since 2005, RTL has operated under direct contracts with major car manufacturers, is a leader in the market of customs brokerage and public transport vehicles, providing the best logistics solutions for imported vehicles, special equipment, components, auto parts and equipment for automobile plants. In 2006, RTL launched the first sea terminal in St. Petersburg for handling inbound vehicles. The company supplies auto parts of such car makers as Nissan, Peugeot, Citroen, Infiniti, Renault, Ford, etc. On July 25, 2008 RTL Group launched a terminal in Novoshakhtinsk. In 2009, RTL established its own transport company RTL-Auto with a fleet of 100 trucks.

Five-month turnover of GEFCO Russia increased by 30% compared with the same period last year, to €22 million, the company statement said.

GEFCO Group is going to increase its total turnover up to EUR4 billion in 2012 versus nearly EUR3 billion in 2009, the PortNews correspondent reports citing GEFCO’s Chairman and CEO Yves Fargues. Mr. Fargues said in an interview with journalists that his company expected to reach profitability at the level of 5% of net income. By 2012 GEFCO plans to open its new branches in Central and Eastern Europe, India, South America.

Yves Fargues noted that Russia is one of the most important autos market in Europe. The Group projected to launch a new logistic facility in Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk.

In 2009 GEFCO Russia’s turnover amounted to 62.8 million euro, including financial performance of Alga, a joint venture of GEFCO Russia and Axis Transport Company, founded in 2007.

GEFCO, founded in 1945, is one of the top ten European logistics operators. The company specializes in integrated freight logistics, warehousing and storage, automotive, marine and air transportation, delivery of vehicles. GEFCO’s offices are operating in 150 countries. The Group's turnover in 2009 amounted to 2.9 billion euro. The company supplies to Russia auto parts of General Motors Corp., Chevrolet, Opel, Cadillac, Hummer Suzuki, BMV and Mini.