Xinhua News Agency, Shenzhen, April 27 (Reporters Wang Feng and Chen Yuxuan) BYD's "Shenzhen" independently manufactured and put into operation in China, the world's largest load capacity car transport ship, started its export maiden voyage on the evening of the 27th, carrying more than 7,000 BYD new energy vehicles departed from Taicang Port, Jiangsu and headed to Itaya Port, Brazil. The entire voyage is expected to be more than 30 days.

  BYD is a well-known new energy vehicle company in China. The interviewed experts believe that the departure of the "Shenzhen" reflects the accelerating arrival of China's "national vehicle self-transportation" era.

  The "Shenzhen" is a new energy vehicle transport ship built by a shipyard under China Merchants Corporation and equipped with 9,200 standard loading parking spaces. It is BYD's fourth professional new energy vehicle transport ship. BYD’s first three professional new energy vehicle transport ships are all made in China.

  On April 22, the car transport ship "Shenzhen" was officially delivered at the Jinling Shipyard in Yizheng, Jiangsu (drone photos). Xinhua News Agency

  BYD Group told Wang Junbao, general manager of the public business department that the delivery of the "Shenzhen" is a key puzzle of BYD's globalization strategy. "It is not only a transport ship, but also a 'maritime bridge' connecting China's 'intelligent manufacturing' with the world market, allowing global users to share China's technological dividends."

  According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, China's automobile export volume exceeded 6.4 million vehicles in 2024, ranking first in the world for the second consecutive year. Data also show that more than 700 professional ships engaged in ocean-going automobile transportation around the world are mainly controlled by European, Japanese and Korean companies, and domestic automobile transportation capacity accounts for only 2.63% of the world. China's trans-ocean automobile capacity and automobile export capacity still do not match.

  This is the "Shenzhen" taken on April 22 (photo left, drone photo) that was docked at the dock of the Jinling Shipyard in Yizheng, Jiangsu. Xinhua News Agency

  In recent years, Chinese automakers such as BYD, Chery, and SAIC have formed fleets. In January 2023, Guangzhou Shipbuilding International announced that it would successfully take effect on two BYD dual-fuel vehicle transport ship orders; Chery Group subsequently announced the establishment of its own fleet; Anji Logistics, a subsidiary of SAIC Group, has ordered a number of large-scale vehicle transport ships of more than 7,000 vehicles at the Jiangnan Shipyard in recent years.

  In the first quarter of 2025, BYD's Ro-Ro-Ro-Ship ship carried more than 25,000 new energy vehicles overseas. At present, BYD's new energy vehicle "footprint" has spread to more than 100 countries and regions around the world.

  Industry experts believe that maritime freight costs greatly affect terminal selling prices, and self-built self-operated fleets can give Chinese automakers more voice and autonomy.

  "Car companies are competing to buy ships to go overseas, which is a microcosm of the continuous development and growth of China's automobile industry and the pace of internationalization are accelerating." Xie Xiaowen, an expert member of the New Technology Promotion Branch of the China Transportation Association, said that buying ships to go overseas can ensure the stable progress of export business, reduce transportation costs, and ensure that products are delivered to overseas users on time.

[Editor in charge: Wang Di]