BYD Sets Sail with World’s Largest Car Carrier Vessel
BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has made waves in the maritime industry with the launch of the world’s largest Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vessel. Named after BYD’s hometown, the carrier, BYD Shenzhen, recently undocked at the Yangzhou port, located just three hours northwest of Shanghai.
The impressive vessel measures 219 meters in length, 37.7 meters in width, and has a draft of 9 meters. With a maximum speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h), the BYD Shenzhen is set to revolutionize the transportation of electric vehicles across the globe.
This marks BYD’s fourth car carrier, with plans to expand their fleet to eight carriers by early 2026 as part of their global expansion strategy. Known for their vertical integration approach, BYD produces not only cars but also their own battery packs and cells. Additionally, the company owns lithium mines and operates an EV insurance company in China, covering all aspects of the EV supply chain.
BYD prides itself on the environmentally friendly design of the Shenzhen. The vessel utilizes LNG dual-fuel technology, enabling it to run on both LNG and traditional marine fuel. Equipped with energy-saving devices for enhanced operational efficiency, the BYD Shenzhen is the first carrier to feature BYD box stationary storage batteries, likely used to power the ship during docking or in low-emission zones to reduce fuel consumption.
In a series of milestones, BYD launched its first carrier, BYD Explorer, in January 2024, followed by BYD Changzhou in December 2024, which set sail to Europe with 5,000 EVs onboard. Most recently, BYD put into operation the 7000-car carrier BYD Hefei, further solidifying their position in the global EV market.
All eight BYD car carriers are designed as RoRo vessels, facilitating efficient loading and unloading of vehicles via built-in ramps. This design streamlines the transportation process without the need for external equipment such as cranes.
In 2024, BYD exported 417,204 EVs, representing a 71.9% increase from the previous year. With a total of 4.25 million passenger vehicles sold globally in 2024, exports accounted for approximately 10% of the company’s sales.
Continuing their global expansion efforts, BYD recently entered the South Korean market with the launch of the Atto 3 EV crossover. This will be followed by the introduction of the Seal sedan and Sealion 07 SUV later this year, further solidifying BYD’s presence in the international automotive market.
With their innovative approach to electric vehicle production and transportation, BYD is paving the way for a sustainable future in the automotive industry.
