CMA CGM Opens Transportation and Logistics Tech Incubator in Arlington, Virginia

Wednesday, 01 June 2022

French container shipping group CMA CGM has opened it’s new startup incubator in Arlington, Virginia that will focus on developing technologies within the transportation and logistics sectors.

Known as ZEBOX America, the incubator is launching with a cohort of eight startups “representing the cutting edge of technological innovation set to disrupt the logistics, supply chain, and Industry 4.0 sectors,” CMA CGM said in a statement.

Founded by CMA CGM Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé in 2018, ZEBOX is a global incubator and accelerator for early-stage startups in transportation and logistics and “Industry 4.0”, which is focussed on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data, encompassing industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and smart manufacturing. Since its founding, ZEBOX has supported nearly 80 startups, helping to raise million of dollars in venture funding and create a significant numbers of new and high-skilled jobs.

Located in Arlington’s National Landing business district, ZEBOX America will serve as ZEBOX’s North American innovation headquarters. Along with its founding partner CMA CGM, nine U.S. supply chain and logistics entities have already formed strategic partnerships with ZEBOX, including CMA CGM Group subsidiary CEVA Logistics, BNSF Railway, Cargomatic, EDRAY, Ingram Logistics, project44, the Port of Virginia, TRAC Intermodal, and RoadOne.

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“The launch of ZEBOX America truly illustrates CMA CGM’s commitment to our U.S. customers, partners and team members. Our desire is to find innovative approaches and bring solutions to the table that will transform the industry and help our nation adapt to the ever-changing business landscape,” said Ed Aldridge, President of CMA CGM America. “CMA CGM and ZEBOX America are on a mission to create the premier center of innovation for supply chain and logistics in the United States, and we will tirelessly work to make it happen.”

Charley Dehoney, Vice President of ZEBOX AMERICA, said, “At ZEBOX, we’re dedicated to forging connections to imagine the future of global logistics, mobility, and supply networks, and our new workspace embodies those values. From our new headquarters, we’ll be working with inspirational founders and legendary industry leaders to chart a new course for the supply chain, logistics, and Industry 4.0 sectors. It’s a thrilling time to be launching our new HQ, and I can’t wait to see what our startup family and our corporate partners achieve in the months and years to come.”

CMA CGM announced Arlington as the home of ZEBOX America in 2021 alongside an announcement that it’s expanding the group’s U.S. headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.

“Thank you, CMA CGM, for choosing Virginia,” said Caren Merrick, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia. “I understand after having started and grown a variety of businesses, having been an angel investor, and a board director for individual companies and private equity, this is exactly what we need. This is the future. We are creating it together.”

Source : https://gcaptain.com/cma-cgm-opens-transportation-and-logistics-tech-incubator-virginia/