Licence to deliver

For nearly six decades, the iconic James Bond film franchise has delivered heart-pumping action, jaw-dropping stunts, edge-of-your-seat moments, and so much more. The popularity of Bond is a global phenomenon that has stood the test of time, adapting to meet the expectations of modern-day moviegoers.

Since Casino Royale (2006), we have worked behind the scenes to support the shooting ​and production of the 007 films. No Time To Die marks the fifth time we’ve received our licence to deliver as Mr. Bond’s Official Logistics Partner. From the legendary Aston Martin to essential film and stunt equipment, the job was exceptional – and extremely exciting! In our most recent mission earlier this year, we completed the delicate delivery of eight original James Bond cars. 

A new mission for No Time To Die

Incredible cars and innovative technology are standard components of any Bond film, but it’s not often you get to see them up close, let alone deliver them overseas. Eight original film cars – five Aston Martins, two BMWs, and one Lotus Esprit S1 – needed to cross the Atlantic from the UK to the US. One of the Aston Martins was used for the spectacular rollover stunt in Casino Royale, which set a world record with seven complete rollovers. The Lotus Esprit S1 is an icon. Known to fans as Wet Nellie, it was specially created for The Spy Who Loved Me. Remember the one that dove underwater? Moving these cars was a thrill – like opening night at the theater – so we rolled out the red carpet.

The cars will be the main attraction of the Bond in Motion exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California (USA). The exhibition is one of the museum’s most high-profile undertakings.

The shipment came with several challenges, compounded by the high value of the vehicles and the relatively tight schedule. The cars had to be handled very delicately, and some required customized skids. We used special enclosed car carriers with air suspension to ensure the vehicles arrived safely. An international team of handling and customs specialists ensured the transport went smoothly over sea and land. The vehicles were transported using DHL’s Sustainable Marine Fuel Service FCL GoGreen Plus, making the delivery climate neutral.

Set in Shanghai, the ad follows a DHL courier as he sets out to deliver a vital package to James Bond. As he arrives at the assigned location to meet Bond, the handover is interrupted, and a high-speed car chase ensues. As the bad guys pursue 007 through the streets, the courier avoids the chaos to deliver the package to an updated delivery address safely and efficiently.

The commercial features the iconic Aston Martin DB5 driven by Bond stunt driver Ben Collins, who worked alongside No Time To Die’s assistant stunt coordinator Peter White. The ad was shot by award-winning director Adam Berg at Smuggler, with No Time To Die’s Linus Sandgren as Director of Photography.

Go behind the scenes

In a production of this scale, timing is everything. Getting these shipments to the right place at the right time was critical. We’re incredibly proud of our role, which required a collective effort from our international teams. Pulling off a feat of this magnitude has given us yet another chance to demonstrate how we fulfill our mission: Excellence. Simply delivered.