BYD adding SEVEN more 7000-car ships to boost export capacity

March 7: BYD growing export potential with new carriers

China's rapidly growing EV brand BYD has confirmed it will launch an additional seven car carriers over the next two years, each capable of carrying 7000 vehicles.

This follows an earlier announcement that 5000 EVs had already started the journey to Europe aboard BYD's first leased ship, the Explorer No.1 – a name that perhaps should have been considered a hint for today's news.

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In context of the market, however, this expansion barely comes close to the capacity of longer-standing car manufacturing countries.

Japan, for example, boasts an international transport capacity of 1.6 million vehicles.

As confirmed in January, BYD's growing fleet will be joined by SAIC (parent of the MG and LDV brands, among others) with 14 ships ordered – some of which will be able to carry up to 9000 vehicles.

January: BYD has its own ship, starts with 5000 cars bound for Europe

BYD has revealed its latest new model, but it’s a rather unique one: this is the BYD Explorer No.1

A massive shipment of new BYD models have set sail from China to Europe, riding aboard the eponymous BYD Explorer No.1 car-carrier ship – leased exclusively for its own use.

Measuring just a few footsteps under 200 metres long, the Explorer No.1 is touted as the first Chinese-manufactured cargo ship purpose-built to transport EVs.

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The ship departed from Shenzhen on January 15, with more than 5000 electric vehicles bound for Flushing Port in the Netherlands, and Bremerhaven, Germany.

EV enthusiast site Electrek reports that the ship is owned by Zodiac Maritime, leased to BYD as a first foray into managing its own sea transport fleet, utilising liquefied natural gas as the main fuel. China International Marine Containers Group (CIMC), the vessel manufacturer, states this will “significantly reduce emissions.”

Other Chinese carmakers, including Chery Automobile and SAIC Motor (LDV), have also placed orders for vessels, challenging the rising shipping expenses as exports steadily increase.

The Chinese carmaker, which has grown significantly in Australia and indeed globally in recent years, says the Explorer No.1 will “ensure BYD’s rapid delivery and expansion of overseas markets”.

Across the various domestic and foreign-partner models built there, China exported over 5.2 million vehicles in 2023 and is estimated to have overtaken Japan as the world’s largest automotive exporter.

BYD alone exported approximately 243,000 of the 3 million vehicles it sold in 2023 – with Australia in the mix of its largest overseas markets, according to information supplied by China Passenger Car Association.