Lazaro Cardenas: A body shop at processing center

SSA Marine this year opened a $50 million vehicle processing center at the Port of Lazaro Cardenas, in Mexico, under a 30-year exclusive operating agreement with the port authority. The auto terminal, sitting on 100 acres, has two vessel berths and a 72-spot on-dock rail loading area.

The facility is expected to handle 450,000 vehicles this year and has the potential to handle more than 750,000 with further expansion, said Bill Kerrigan, vice president of logistics for SSA's auto division. The processing center includes a body shop and capability for undercoating and homologation.