Hyundai Imports 2 Millionth Vehicle Through Auto Terminal In Portland

1990 may best be known as the year when the first server set the foundation for the internet, but it was also the year that the Hyundai import auto terminal opened in Portland.

The web looks a whole lot different now than it did then, and the same can be said for the Hyundai lineup.

23 years after the opening of the terminal, Hyundai imported its 2 millionth vehicle in July.

The increased demand for Hyundai vehicles has helped Portland to become the second largest import hub in the US.

First Hyundai Vehicls Arrived In 1986

The first Hyundai vehicles actually started arriving in Portland back in 1986, with the Excel subcompact the big arrival on its way to 29 different states.

A couple of years later, Hyundai signed a letter of intent that confirmed the Port of Portland as the company’s primary port of entry.

The deal was secured thanks to support from the Governor’s office and federal delegation

Bob Mazer, manager, Portland of GLOVIS America, Hyundai Auto Group’s logistics provider, said that Hyundai did their due diligence on a number of different west coast ports before finally settling on Portland.

Hyundai, the Oregon lottery and the port financed the construction of the $12.2 million auto import facility and floating dock.

The groundbreaking was a grand spectacle, with skydivers delivering a shovel from 2,000 feet.

Oregon and South Korea showed of their friendly ties by displaying flags from both sides during construction. It was almost a year later in March 1990 when the first Hyundai auto ship arrived at the new facility.

John Akre, terminal manager for the Port of Portland, said that the port has continued to grow to keep pace with Hyundai’s growth over the past two decades. He also spoke about the great relationship they have maintained with Hyundai and GLOVIS.

Portland Auto Terminal Expansion

The inbound vehicles for GLOVIS are now handled by Auto Warehousing Company at the leased, 130-acre Terminal 6 auto processing facility.

27,000 square feet of additional space will be available once the current $2.8 million expansion is completed.

That will allow capacity to increase to over 110,000 vehicles each year. It is believed that the expansion could end up doubling the workforce of 70 people currently employed at the facility.

Portland saw more than 275,000 vehicles roll across the docks in 2012, and each one has an estimated economic impact of $271 to the local economy.