Freight Transport Center in Augsburg

The Augsburg Region Freight Centre (GVZ) positions itself as a central hub in southern German and European goods traffic. With its strategically favourable location, state-of-the-art infrastructure and clear focus on the intelligent networking of road and rail (bimodality), it offers companies in the logistics sector and the shipping industry decisive locational advantages. But what makes this location so attractive for global players and medium-sized companies? This non-fiction text sheds light on the decisive factors – from infrastructure to cost structures to the availability of skilled workers – and provides a well-founded description of the location for investors, logistics companies and economic decision-makers.

General description: A successful inter-municipal project

The Augsburg Region Freight Village is much more than just an industrial park. It is a carefully planned, inter-municipal project of the cities of Augsburg, Gersthofen and Neusäß, which was designed as an international freight hub. On a gross area of 112 hectares – the equivalent of about 150 football pitches – an area has been created that is tailored to the needs of modern logistics. Of the total area, around 71 hectares are designated as net commercial space, which is divided into various zones for logistics service providers, logistics-related services and the central container terminal.

The concept of the GVZ follows a clear strategic division, which is described as a "50-30-20" mix:

• 50% of the space is intended for classic logistics service providers such as freight forwarders, contract logistics companies and CEP services (courier, express and parcel services).
• 30% is reserved for companies and service providers related to combined transport (CT).
• 20% is available for logistics-related service providers , including commercial vehicle centres, workshops, petrol stations, hotels and office space.

This well-thought-out structure promotes synergies between the companies located there and creates a comprehensive service ecosystem that goes far beyond the mere handling of goods. In the final expansion, up to 2,500 jobs are to be created in the Augsburg freight village and a cargo handling of around 1.43 million tons per year is to be realized.

The location: In the heart of the southern German economic axis

Perhaps the greatest strength of the Augsburg freight village is its geographical and infrastructural location. It is located directly at the intersection of important supra-regional transport axes and forms a strategic gateway for the flow of goods towards southern and southeastern Europe.

• North: Connection to the Nuremberg metropolitan region.
• East: Direct access to the Munich metropolitan region.
• West: Quick accessibility of Stuttgart and the Rhine railway.
• South: Important route to Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy.

This positioning in the third largest conurbation in Bavaria, a region with a heterogeneous and strong economic structure without the dominance of a single industry, makes the GVZ an ideal consolidation and distribution point. Companies such as KUKA, MAN, Premium Aerotec and SGL Carbon shape the regional economy and generate considerable and steady demand for logistics.

Infrastructure and modality: The bimodal powerhouse

The Augsburg freight village is designed as a bimodal location that optimally combines the modes of road and rail transport. There is no waterway connection, which underlines the clear focus on the efficiency of land transport.

Road connection: Direct connection to main traffic arteries

The road infrastructure is excellently developed. The GVZ has direct, crossing-free connections to the most important federal highways in the region:

• A8 motorway: As one of the most important east-west main roads in Germany, it connects Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg and Munich.
• B17 federal road: The four-lane expressway acts as an important north-south axis and connects Augsburg with Landsberg am Lech and the A96 in the direction of Lindau and Switzerland.
• B2 federal road: It provides the connection in the direction of Nuremberg in the north and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the south.

This first-class connection ensures fast turnaround times and reliable accessibility for long-distance truck and distribution transport.

Rail connection: The new centrepiece – the container terminal

The future of the Augsburg freight village lies largely on the rails. With the construction of the new terminal for combined transport (CT terminal), which is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2026, the location will become a central hub for intermodal transport. This "container station", planned and built by DB InfraGO AG, replaces the previous, capacity-limited facility in Augsburg-Oberhausen and sets new standards.

Key facts about the new CT terminal:

• Investment volume: Around 83 million euros, borne by Deutsche Bahn, the federal government and the EU.
• Track systems: Four transshipment tracks with a craneable usable length of 700 metres, suitable for handling block trains.
• Handling technology: Two state-of-the-art gantry cranes (a third can be retrofitted as an option).
• Capacity: Designed for up to 100,000 loading units per year when completed, which is a significant increase compared to the 22,000 units of the old terminal.

This terminal provides direct access to the German seaports in the north (Hamburg, Bremerhaven) and the Adriatic ports in the south (e.g. Trieste, Koper) and strengthens the connection to the trans-European transport networks. For the regional economy, this means a massive relief of the roads, a reduction in CO2 emissions (estimated savings: 1,754 tons of CO2 per year) and a sustainable safeguarding of competitiveness.

Nearest airport

For air freight shipments, Munich Airport (MUC), one of the largest cargo airports in Europe, can be reached quickly via the A8 motorway at a distance of approx. 70-80 km. The closer Augsburg Airport (AGB) does not play a role for scheduled and freight traffic.

Economic attractiveness: focus on costs and taxes

The financial framework conditions are just as decisive for a location decision as the infrastructure. What costs do companies have to factor in in the Augsburg freight village?

Rental and land prices

The real estate market in the Augsburg region is dynamic. Exact rental prices for logistics properties in the GVZ are rarely published publicly and depend heavily on the equipment, size and term of the lease. Based on market reports for the Augsburg region, the following prime rents can  be assumed as a guideline for modern logistics and industrial properties (new construction standard):

• approx. 6,50 € - 7,50 € per m² per month

The land prices are indexed by the standard land values of the respective municipalities. Since the GVZ is located in the districts of Gersthofen and Neusäß, their values are relevant. The standard land values for commercial building areas have shown an upward trend in recent years. According to data from Bodenrichtwerte-Deutschland.de, the values for commercial properties (as of 2023) were:

• Gersthofen: approx. 192 €/m²
• Neusäß: approx. 192 €/m²

These values serve as a guide; the actual purchase prices may vary depending on the situation and negotiation.

Tax rates: A decisive competitive factor

A significant advantage of the inter-municipal freight village is that companies benefit from the assessment rates of the respective city, depending on the exact location of their property. The trade tax rates of the participating municipalities are competitive in a regional and national comparison.

Trade tax rates (as of 2024/2025):

• City of Augsburg: 470 %
• City of Gersthofen: 360 %
• City of Neusäß: 340 %

(Source: City of Gersthofen, gewerbesteuer.de for Neusäß, as of September 2025)

The significantly lower assessment rates in Gersthofen and Neusäß represent a clear financial incentive for settling in the corresponding parts of the GVZ and are an important factor in the overall consideration of operating costs.

Workforce and skilled workers: potential of an educational region

Efficient logistics requires qualified and motivated employees. The Augsburg region offers a solid foundation for this. With over 1.1 million inhabitants in the wider catchment area, there is a large pool of potential workers available. The logistics industry is already the second largest employer in the region.

The availability of skilled workers is ensured by a wide range of training and further education opportunities:

• Dual training: Numerous companies in and around Augsburg, including major players such as DB Schenker, train specialists in warehouse logistics, freight forwarding and logistics services clerks and professional drivers.
• Dual study program: Universities such as IU International University of Applied Sciences offer dual study programs in business administration with a specialization in logistics management in Augsburg. This ensures the next generation of academically qualified managers.
• Proximity to universities: The University of Augsburg and the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences offer courses of study in economic and technical subjects that are relevant to the logistics industry.

Despite these good conditions, the nationwide shortage of skilled workers is also noticeable in the Augsburg region, especially in the commercial sector (e.g. professional drivers) and among specialized logistics companies. However, companies that invest in training and offer attractive working conditions have a clear advantage in the competition for the best minds.

Top logistics region Augsburg: Why?

According to studies, including those conducted by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Augsburg-Swabia region is one of the top logistics regions in Germany. This ranking is based on a combination of several factors:

1. Excellent infrastructure: The high density of motorways and federal roads as well as the future intermodal terminal.
2. Strong industrial demand: A diversified and export-oriented local economy ensures a constant and high volume of freight.
3. High purchasing power: The region itself is an important consumer market, which increases its importance for trade and distribution logistics.
4. Availability of qualified personnel: An established ecosystem of education and training institutions.
5. Active network: The "Logistics Cluster Swabia", supported by the Swabian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, promotes exchange and cooperation between the players in the industry and strengthens the location in the long term.

Companies based here: A who's who of the industry

The success of the GVZ Augsburg can also be seen in the names of the companies that have already decided on the location. The mixture of internationally active corporations and specialized medium-sized companies shows the attractiveness of the location for different business models. Some of the best-known investors and tenants include:

• DB Schenker
• DHL
• Hermes
• Honold Logistics Group
• Prologis (as a developer and lessor of logistics space)
• Mercedes-Benz (with one of the most modern commercial vehicle centres in Europe)
• Max Weishaupt GmbH (manufacturer of heating systems with its own logistics center)
• Container logistics company Kloiber
• Auto Reichhardt (mobility services for commercial vehicles)

Key facts GVZ Augsburg at a glance

Conclusion: A location with strategic vision

The Augsburg freight centre is more than just a collection of warehouses. It is a dynamic, growing logistics ecosystem that provides the right answers to the industry's key trends – intermodality, sustainability and efficiency. The strategic location, the excellent infrastructure and the imminent quantum leap through the new CT terminal make the GVZ one of the most attractive and future-proof logistics locations in southern Germany. For companies that want to optimize their supply chains for the European markets, there is hardly any way around the GVZ Augsburg. The question is no longer whether a settlement is worthwhile, but how quickly it can be realized in order to benefit from the advantages of this premium location.