Leading The Way In International Freight

The fame of these luxury brands is legendary and they have become symbols of engineering excellence, an industry in which Germany is truly world class. These top of the range car exports are perhaps the best known of German exports but they are certainly not the only ones. In 2007, Germany exported nearly 1.5 trillion dollars of goods, spanning a wide range of sectors. The strength of the export sector helps compensate for sluggish domestic demand. In fact, German companies derive one third of their total revenue from exports. The international freight sector has developed in order to underpin this thriving trade and freight transport operates efficiently at all levels. Vehicles are the largest single sector within export trade, followed by industrial machinery and chemicals. Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical preparations are also a large sector, as well as scientific, medical and hospital equipment. The single most important trading partner for Germany is France, then closely followed by the United States. As well as with other European Union countries, there is also growing German trade with China and Russia.

In fact, there is particular emphasis on building exports to Russia and it is interesting to note that Germany is already Russia's leading trade partner, particularly in the energy sector. Meanwhile, China has now overtaken Japan as Germany's top trade partner in Asia and Germany has been making significant investment in China as its economy expands. So the freight services sector has seen considerable growth in activity between these countries. The fastest growing exports to the United States are precious metals (especially copper), railway equipment, television receivers, DVDs and other video equipment. The United States is the second largest trading partner for Germany after France. The total value of trade between the United States and Germany is approaching 100 billion dollars, with Germany exporting approximately twice as much as it imports. Imports making up international freight from the United States include aircraft, telecommunications equipment, electrical goods and motor vehicle parts. Given this picture of export strength and its pivotal role in the economy of Germany, Germany has a policy of aiming to reduce trade barriers at all levels, including any involving tariffs. This policy also extends to a progressive transport policy that helps support freight transport to and from the country. These policies at central level will continue to ensure that Germany remains a leading world exporter as its trading partners emerge from recession. There can be no doubt that the freight forwarders that serve the German market will also continue to stay at the leading edge.

The Nissan Leaf is also at a disadvantage pricing-wise. 30,680, the Leaf is actually more expensive than the current e-Golf and that’s not likely to change compared to the revised model. 34,200. Not a very good deal to be honest. Although technically a crossover, the Kia Soul EV is compact enough to be cross-shopped with the e-Golf. Heavily based on the familiar and boxy Soul hatchback, the EV stands out by means of a body-colored front grille and a few extra features usually found on electric cars. Unfortunately, much like the Focus Electric and Nissan Leaf, the Sould EV is far from impressive as far as range goes, being rated at only 93 miles by the EPA. Powered by a 27-kWh lithium-ion battery, the AC synchronous motor produces 109 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. As of 2016, Kia sold more than 10,000 Soul EVs, with significantly more than half delivered in Europe. In the U.S., less than 2,000 units were delivered.

31,950 in the U.S., which makes it the most expensive vehicle in this comparison. Find out more about the Kia Soul EV here. Launched for the 2017 model year, the Bolt is the newest and most potent EV in the compact segment. The fresh exterior design is complemented by a modern cabin that includes loads of tech, such as Bluetooth connectivity, MyChevrolet App, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, connectivity for up to seven devices, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument cluster is an eight-inch screen, while the 10.2-inch display gives access to the infotainment system. Powered by a battery produced by LG Chem, the Bolt’s motor generates 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, which enables the hatchback to hit 60 mph in am impressive seven seconds. Top speed is rated at 91 mph. 7,500. Given the extra power and range, the Bolt is a better deal than the e-Golf even if it costs more. Learn more about the Chevrolet Bolt here. Although it didn’t change much on the outside, the facelifted e-Golf gained quite a lot of updates in the tech department and under the hood. The previous model was already a better choice compared to the Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf and Kia Soul EV, and the update just made it that much better. Also, the new technology and state-of-the-art features like gesture control put it on par with much newer vehicles and the recently launched Chevy Bolt. On the other hand, the 124-mile range isn’t exactly competitive with the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3 right around the corner, so the e-Golf will probably return slower sales over the next few years.