The BYD Shenzhen returns from a trial voyage in March. Photo by Xinhua

Pingshan-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has launched the world’s largest cargo ship for vehicles, marking a significant advancement in its global sales and supply chain layout.

Named “BYD Shenzhen,” the LNG dual-fuel auto carrier can accommodate up to 9,200 cars and is BYD’s fourth car carrier ship to date. The 219-meter-long, 37.7-meter-wide ro-ro ship was delivered April 22 in the city of Yizheng, eastern China’s Jiangsu Province.  

The ship features cutting-edge green technologies such as high-efficiency, energy-saving main engines, a boil-off gas (BOG) recondenser, and anti-fouling, drag-reducing coatings, effectively improving the vessel’s energy efficiency and ensuring it meets the latest environmental standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

At the delivery ceremony, Wang Junbao, general manager of BYD’s public business division, noted that the ship’s efficient loading system and advanced protective technologies can provide stable, low-carbon logistics support for BYD’s global delivery of new energy vehicles (NEVs).

“The delivery of the BYD Shenzhen represents a crucial step in BYD’s globalization strategy. It is more than just a transport ship — it serves as a ‘maritime bridge’ connecting Chinese innovation with the global market, enabling users around the world to share in the benefits of Chinese technology,” Wang noted.

The new vessel is scheduled to complete its loading operations this week before embarking on a journey to Brazil. 

The BYD headquarters in Pingshan District. File photo

In 2024, BYD’s overseas sales reached 417,200 units. Among them, Brazil emerged as a standout market with 76,700 vehicles sold, achieving a remarkable year-on-year growth rate of 328%. The launch of the BYD Shenzhen is expected to further enhance the company’s presence and delivery capabilities overseas.

BYD currently operates three ro-ro ships, namely the Explorer No. 1, the Changzhou, and the Hefei. In the first quarter of 2025, these ships transported over 25,000 NEVs overseas. To date, BYD’s NEVs have reached over 400 cities in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide.

China’s NEV sector saw robust production and sales in the first quarter of 2025, with production surging 50.4% year on year to 3.18 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The country’s auto exports maintained steady growth momentum, with NEV exports soaring 43.9% year on year to 441,000 units.