We Adapt and Grow
It's the story of Amports. Innovation and responsiveness for over six decades. From our roots in Benicia to our continuous expansion across North America, Amports has been a leader in the auto-processing industry. Today we continue the forward-thinking that has made us an integral link in the automotive supply chain.
Timeline
Take a scroll through our storied past. Amports has a proven record of leadership in vehicle processing and logistics marked by agility, expertise and market responsiveness.
Baltimore Port Terminal (BPT) begins stevedoring operations across Amports’ Atlantic and Chesapeake terminals in Baltimore, enhancing service capabilities for supply chain partners.
Benicia Port Terminal Company (BPT) becomes the stevedoring operator at Amports private piers in Benicia and Antioch, CA
Amports opens its Antioch pier for RoRo operations, handling over 6,000 vehicles within the first three months
Amports acquires Horizon Terminal Services LLC, expanding our footprint in vehicle processing and logistics
Amports is acquired by Instar Asset Management
Lincolnshire Management acquires Amports, marking a return to private equity ownership
We stop using the name Grupo Centurión de México
Amports expands internationally by establishing operations in Mexico under the name Grupo Centurión de México
Amports, Inc., headquartered in Jacksonville FL, is established as the corporate body comprising our port operators and auto processors
Benicia Ports PLC acquires Hobelmann Port Services and Crown Auto Processing for $33 million, expanding Amports' East Coast operations with Baltimore terminals handling over 200,000 vehicles annually
The company goes public, listing on the London Stock Exchange to raise capital, as original shareholders exit the business. Associated British Ports (ABP) acquires Amports
The Benicia Port Terminal Company is established in Benicia, CA, extending our West Coast presence
A group of shareholders in Benicia, CA, purchases a 4,000-acre military arsenal, sparking the city’s economic recovery and marking the beginning of Amports’ focus on port operations and auto processing
As an Amports predecessor, Hobelmann Motors, Inc., a major Volkswagen importer in Baltimore, MD, was owned by the Hobelmann family, who also owned Hobelmann Port Services.
Stanley Hiller Sr. and J.J. Coney transformed Santa Cruz Oil into Benicia Industries, focusing on global maritime ventures and redeveloping Benicia, including a yacht harbor and Arsenal properties.
Santa Cruz Oil Company, trading in herring and pilchard oil, marks the earliest origins of Amports.
In conclusion
The evolution of Amports into what it is today reflects our ability to adapt and thrive in a competitive industry. From our early days as a key player in saving Benicia’s economy to our expansions across the U.S. and beyond, we've remained an integral part of the automotive supply chain. The integration of Hobelmann Motors, shifts between public and private ownership, and responsiveness to market demands have all played significant roles in establishing Amports as a prominent name in the vehicle processing world. Now operating under the Amports brand we continue to leverage our rich history and forward-thinking strategies to remain a prominent leader in the industry.
