In his address, Luka Koper Management Board member and former head of the Car Terminal Gregor Belič recalled the beginnings of the cooperation and the dinner in Bonn that opened the door to new opportunities. Mercedes-Benz brought vision, MOL contributed trust and extensive experience, while Luka Koper proved itself to be a reliable, efficient, and sustainable logistics partner.
The first test shipments of cars quickly developed into regular shipping connections with Asia – China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore – significantly relieving traffic flows through the congested German ports and bringing greater efficiency and lower costs. An important part of the shared story is also our subsidiary, Avtoservis, whose technical centre complements the operations of the Car Terminal. Anouck Arnaud, Head of Logistics at Mercedes-Benz, emphasised that from a manufacturer’s perspective, the transit time for bringing a car to the customer is crucial, and a shorter route plays a key role in achieving both business and sustainability goals. Mario Jansen, Managing Director of MOL Europe, also addressed the audience, highlighting that the connection with Koper has had a major impact in terms of sustainability, as the shorter maritime route saves as much as 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year compared to routes to Northern European ports.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the partners agreed that their joint growth will continue. In her closing remarks, Nevenka Kržan, President of the Management Board of the Luka Koper, noted that the company is currently in the midst of a major investment cycle, which includes the construction of a new multi‑storey car garage, the creation of additional open storage areas for more than 20,000 vehicles, and the development of new RO‑RO berths. Another significant step forward will be the completion of the new Koper–Divača railway line, planned for next year, which will further strengthen the port’s connectivity. The celebration was above all a tribute to partnership, trust, and shared achievements. As the speakers emphasised, the cooperation between the Port of Koper, MOL, and Mercedes‑Benz is not merely a story of logistics, but one of shared values, reliability, and a vision for the future.
