Amazon Builds and Tests New Locations: Upper Austria Becomes a Major Logistics Hub

The US e-commerce giant Amazon continues its aggressive expansion in Austria, with significant developments underway in Upper Austria. The construction of a new distribution center at the Enns harbor, slated for operation by Spring 2027, signifies a major step in bolstering Amazon's logistical capabilities within the region. This facility will be the sixth of its kind in Austria, underscoring the country's strategic importance for the company's European operations.

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The project applicant submitted a building project for preliminary examination to the municipality of Schalchen on April 14.

Beyond the Enns project, Amazon's ambitions in Upper Austria appear even grander. Reports suggest potential investments exceeding 700 million euros over the coming years, aimed at establishing a robust logistics network. This includes plans for two additional logistics hubs in the Innviertel region. One such project, detailed in a building permit application filed in Schalchen, involves a 50 million euro investment for a new distribution center on a five-hectare site. The local municipality views this favorably, citing potential tax revenue and the fact that a new bypass road will mitigate traffic concerns.

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In terms of traffic, settlement is not a problem, unlike many other potential locations, as a new bypass road is currently being built anyway.

However, Amazon's expansion is not without its critics. Local communities, particularly in St. Valentin and Kronstorf, have previously voiced strong opposition to similar projects due to fears of increased traffic congestion and environmental strain. The Schalchen project, though seemingly less problematic from a traffic perspective due to existing infrastructure plans, has still generated some local discontent. A primary concern is the principle of 'soil sealing' – the development of new facilities on undeveloped land ('greenfield') while adjacent, vacant warehouse spaces remain unused. Experts have long identified increasing soil sealing as a critical issue in Austrian spatial planning, raising questions about sustainable land use and development.

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Instead of using these areas, the new distribution center is to be built 'on the green meadow'.