Another Record-Breaking Year for Auto Imports at Quonset

The latest evidence that Quonset Business Park and the Port of Davisville in North Kingstown is at the center of Rhode Island’s economic turnaround: automobile imports broke yet another annual record last year.

More than 178,000 automobiles were imported at the Port last year. Another 34,000 arrived by rail and 3,000 came by truck.

Vehicles that come into the Port are processed, finished and sent off across the country to dealerships by North Atlantic Distribution, a longtime Quonset tenant.

Governor Gina Raimondo stopped by Quonset last week to celebrate the milestone and highlight the vital role the Port is now playing in the state’s economy.

“This milestone is a tremendous example of the private sector working together with the state to make us a leader on the global stage,” Raimondo said. “The priorities of my administration are to attract more entrepreneurs and to support our existing business, all while fostering innovation in government. The Port of Davisville has become one of North America’s leading auto importers because we’ve modernized its infrastructure and marketed our strengths and because NORAD has grown to more than 300 people since it began operations here more than 25 years ago.”

The traffic in Quonset reflects an increase of 5,000 more automobiles in 2014 than in 2013 and the Port is now one of the top 10 auto importers in North America.

Quonset is now home to almost 200 companies, employing more than 10,000 people in full-time and part-time jobs across several industries.

“We are thrilled to call the Port of Davisville NORAD’s home,” said Michael Miranda, president and CEO of NORAD. “The state and our federal leaders have done an incredible job in positioning the Port for more business, and we intend to capitalize on those efforts in the months and years ahead.”

In 2014, the Port imported 178,215 autos, a 2.8 percent increase from 2013. The amount of cars imported is now more than five times the volume seen at the Port just 15 years ago. An additional 34,293 autos were brought to the Port to be finished by rail and 3,498 by truck.

The bustling Port is also home to businesses such as Seafreeze, Ltd., American Mussel Harvesters, RI Mooring Services, Mill Creek Marine, and others. An economic impact study recently found that the Port of Davisville supports more than 1,100 direct and indirect induced jobs. The Port also creates $119 million in business output annually for the state, generates approximately $42.6 million in house hold income, and contributes about $4 million in state taxes and $5 million in local taxes to Rhode Island’s economy.

“We are thrilled to have reached another great milestone alongside NORAD and we believe there is much more growth still to come for Quonset and the companies at the Business Park,” said Steven J. King, PE, the managing director of the QDC. “We are dedicated to helping move Rhode Island forward and building on the momentum that we are seeing today.”