It is France’s number-two region for the automobile industry and a leader in the field for Europe as a whole-nearly two-thirds of all European manufacturers along with many of their suppliers have production sites within a radius of 500 km from Lille. Altogether 10 million cars and light utility vehicles representing 80% of Western Europe’s annual production are made within 700 kms.

Northern France is also a favored site for equipment makers, who benefit from outstanding transport infrastructure providing direct links to Europe’s largest markets by road, sea, rail and air.

This makes the region a natural home for other makers of transport equipment, especially rolling stock, where top names include Bombardier and Alstom. These operate primarily in Valenciennes and neighboring areas. Their capacity for successful innovation is well illustrated by the VAL light urban-rail system, now exported to all parts of the world.

Over 140 high-speed TGV trains carry passengers to and from 18 stations in the region each day, and 550 km of multi-lane highways-313 km of them toll free-offer easy access to Europe’s capital cities. At the same time, a coastline along the world’s busiest strait brings together an array of port facilities on a scale unmatched in any comparable region, although it is barely 80 kms long.

Logistics, now more critical to business competitiveness than ever, back business of all sizes with services meeting the strictest requirements for efficient deliveries and inventory management. Capacity to manage large flows of goods to make the most of outstanding transport facilities and infrastructure is a key focus of excellence.