Volkswagen and D-Wave Extend Quantum Logistics Simulation to European Intermodal Freight
September 27, 2018
Quantum Logistics Crosses the Atlantic
After making headlines in 2017 and 2018 with its quantum traffic flow experiments in Beijing, Volkswagen Group is quietly moving to adapt quantum computing to another, more complex arena: European intermodal freight logistics. In September 2018, the German automaker and tech leader announced a new phase of its collaboration with D-Wave Systems, aimed at using quantum annealing to simulate, optimize, and decongest cargo transport routes across truck, rail, and port networks in Germany and beyond.
This marked one of the first real-world attempts to apply quantum computation not just to vehicle routing, but to the hybrid logistical systems that underpin the continent’s trade backbone.
The Complexity of Intermodal Freight: A Quantum Problem
European logistics presents a unique challenge: the seamless transfer of goods between modes (truck, train, barge, and ship) across dozens of national systems. Managing this complexity—particularly under constraints like emissions caps, driver shortages, and real-time route disruptions—is precisely where quantum annealing’s combinatorial optimization power can shine.
The Volkswagen-D-Wave simulations conducted in September 2018 targeted:
Container routing optimization across inland rail terminals
Truck dispatch synchronization with train arrival schedules
Minimization of cargo idle time between transfers
Reduction of total emissions footprint along selected corridors
Pilot Sites: Hamburg, Munich, and Duisburg
According to internal VW logistics planning documents and confirmed by a D-Wave partner blog dated September 27, 2018, the trials focused on three key German freight hubs:
Port of Hamburg: Germany’s largest seaport and a vital node for Asia-Europe flows.
Duisburg Intermodal Terminal: Europe’s largest inland port, connecting rail and barge routes to Rotterdam.
Munich Freight Center: A dense trucking and rail hub serving southern Germany and the Alpine corridor.
By applying quantum annealing to route scheduling problems, Volkswagen aimed to simulate how a given cargo container could be moved more efficiently—not just from A to B, but from port to terminal to warehouse, with minimal wait times and lower emissions.
Why Quantum Annealing?
Unlike general-purpose quantum computers (which are still under development), D-Wave’s quantum annealers are built specifically to solve complex optimization problems—like those found in supply chain logistics.
In Volkswagen’s application:
Each cargo flow was encoded as a variable in a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) model.
Constraints like train schedules, terminal availability, and truck capacity were built into the simulation.
The D-Wave system then sought the lowest-energy configuration — the mathematically optimal route set.
This approach allowed VW’s logistics team to simulate thousands of cargo flows within seconds, something that would take classical solvers hours or days.
A Broader Vision for Sustainable Logistics
While VW’s public-facing work in quantum computing had previously focused on traffic management in urban mobility (e.g., taxis in Beijing), this new phase represents a broader shift: the application of quantum to enterprise-scale freight logistics.
In an interview with Handelsblatt in late September 2018, Florian Neukart, Director of Advanced Technologies at Volkswagen’s Data:Lab, said:
“We’re moving from theory to operations. The supply chain is one of the most promising areas for quantum optimization—not just for speed, but for sustainability.”
In this context, Volkswagen sees its quantum initiative as a key component of its logistics decarbonization roadmap, which also includes electrified truck fleets and smart warehouse robotics.
Global Collaboration: Building the Future of Quantum Freight
To scale its simulations across Europe, Volkswagen also engaged with academic and institutional partners during September 2018, including:
The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (Kaiserslautern), which specializes in supply chain simulation
The German Aerospace Center (DLR), contributing algorithms for multimodal transport planning
The European Quantum Flagship initiative, which includes logistics optimization as a use case in upcoming funding calls
These collaborations reflect a broader European push to lead in applied quantum logistics, especially as the continent faces increasing pressure to digitize and decarbonize freight systems.
Beyond Germany: Quantum Logistics Across the EU
While September’s pilots were concentrated in Germany, the D-Wave-VW team is actively scouting expansion sites in:
Netherlands (Rotterdam and Venlo)
Belgium (Antwerp)
Poland (via rail corridors into Central Europe)
Italy (Genoa and Trieste)
These corridors are ripe for optimization. For example, the TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) is overloaded and delayed at key junctions—issues that quantum simulation could help resolve before they become physical bottlenecks.
By building a pan-European model of intermodal cargo flow, VW hopes to eventually feed its real-time logistics control towers with quantum-derived scheduling data.
Commercial Implications: From Experiment to Deployment
While September 2018’s work remained simulation-based, the end goal is clear: integration into Volkswagen Group Logistics, the division responsible for moving over 250 million parts per year across 1500 global suppliers.
If the quantum models prove consistently superior in simulation, the plan is to:
Use quantum outputs to train classical ML models for hybrid deployment
Embed quantum-derived schedules into SAP and Oracle-based ERP systems
Apply learnings to non-automotive freight sectors, including agriculture, energy, and consumer goods
Volkswagen also intends to open its quantum optimization framework to third parties via an API in early trials—potentially turning this into a commercial quantum logistics platform.
Competitive Landscape: Who Else Is in the Game?
While VW and D-Wave lead in quantum freight simulation in Europe, other players are moving fast:
Airbus is exploring quantum solutions for cargo loading and logistics through its Quantum Computing Challenge.
DB Schenker has launched a post-quantum cryptography working group for its rail freight systems.
Maersk is quietly evaluating quantum resilience in maritime IoT, according to internal recruitment notices.
This signals a new reality: quantum logistics is no longer theoretical—it’s a strategic battleground.
Conclusion: Building the Quantum Logistics Stack, One Route at a Time
Volkswagen’s September 2018 collaboration with D-Wave marks a subtle but significant shift in quantum logistics: from isolated urban pilot projects to the real-world complexity of intermodal freight.
The work conducted at German freight hubs proves that quantum optimization, especially via annealing methods, has tangible value in solving route congestion, asset utilization, and emissions targets. It also hints at the next evolution of logistics platforms—where quantum algorithms operate alongside AI, robotics, and digital twins to form an intelligent supply chain nervous system.
The real freight revolution won’t be televised—it’ll be optimized in a quantum annealer.