Gebrüder Weiss supports the aCentauri Solar Racing Team

The logistics company Gebrüder Weiss is once again supporting the students of the aCentauri Solar Racing Team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich on their journey to Australia for the World Solar Challenge 2025. The GW branches in Zurich, Wolfurt, and Adelaide ensure seamless transport of the solar-powered racing vehicle.

(Lauterach/Zürich) In this year’s international race for solar vehicles, the Swiss students aim to surpass their debut result from 2023 (12th place) and have developed an aerodynamically improved vehicle with a larger solar surface. To ensure that nothing goes wrong before the race starts on August 24 in Darwin, the team has once again entrusted the complex transport to Gebrüder Weiss.

“We are very pleased to support the aCentauri team from ETH Zurich again this year. Such collaborations align with our understanding of partnership: long-term, trustworthy, and focused on a sustainable future of mobility,” explains Frank Haas, Head of Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “The students already demonstrated impressively in 2023 that solar mobility works – now we wish them much success on their way to the top ten.”

By Sea Freight to Australia

In May, the technical equipment was shipped to Australia by sea freight. Now, the vehicle itself is embarking on its journey by air freight – following a live presentation at the Gebrüder Weiss location in Wolfurt. In front of the attending press representatives, the students completed a final test drive before the vehicle was prepared for air transport at the IATA-certified terminal.

This means: The Air & Sea Terminal at the Wolfurt location serves as an officially recognized air freight terminal. Here, shipments can be processed according to the standards of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for air traffic – including special packaging, security checks, and all required testing processes. Subsequently, the departure occurs without further intermediate steps via Frankfurt Airport.

Upon arrival in Australia, the logistics experts from the new Gebrüder Weiss location in Adelaide will take over further processing: They will coordinate the import formalities and transport to the University of Adelaide.

The World Solar Challenge starts on August 24, 2025, and spans over 3,000 kilometers across the Australian Outback. The race was first held in 1987 and promotes innovations in sustainable mobility and renewable energy.

Actively Shaping the Future of Mobility

As a company with over 500 years of history, Gebrüder Weiss aims to actively shape the future of mobility. Since 2021, the company has been involved in relevant projects and works closely with universities, research teams, and start-ups. In addition to logistics, the company also makes a communicative contribution: It promotes the exchange between project partners and increases the visibility of forward-looking ideas. The goal is to bring new technologies into practice at an early stage.

Photo: © Gebrüder Weiss / Fotowerk Lampelmayer