Automakers to Face Shipping Disruptions Following Baltimore Bridge Collapse

• Numerous automakers are facing shipping challenges after Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed earlier this week.
• Traffic has been suspended at the Port of Baltimore until further notice, creating issues for many automakers who import vehicles through this large and busy port.
• According to Automotive News, Audi, Bentley, Ford, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Lamborghini, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo depend on the port for importing, exporting, and parts shipment.

Numerous automakers are facing shipping challenges on America's Eastern seaboard following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which left six people missing and presumed dead. The collapse occurred after a 948-foot container ship collided with the bridge, bringing it down almost immediately. On Tuesday, following the collapse, the Port of Baltimore said that vessel traffic in and out of the port would be suspended until further notice, though trucks within the port's terminals can still be processed.

The port's closing has created a logistical headache for many automakers who use the area to import vehicles into the United States. Most major automakers use this location to import and export vehicles and parts.

A report from Automotive News notes that Volkswagen and BMW are two examples of automakers that will be less affected because their terminals are located east of the bridge and remain accessible. Others are not so lucky, the paper said, and are being forced to find workarounds until things can return to normal.

«This is a terrible tragedy and our sympathies go out to those injured and still missing in Baltimore,» said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a firm that represents Ford, GM, Toyota, and Volkswagen, among other major automakers in the U.S. «It's too early to say what impact this incident will have on the auto business, but there will certainly be a disruption. Baltimore is the No. 1 automobile port in the U.S., and we’re in touch with federal officials to help them understand the scale of automotive operations there.»

Last year, the private and public terminals within the Baltimore port handled