In 2024, the Chinese automaker launched an ambitious campaign to penetrate the European market exclusively with electric vehicles. As part of this effort, BYD decided to take control of its own oceanic logistics. In January, the car carrier Explorer No1, loaded with 5,449 electric cars, made its maiden four-week journey from the Chinese ports of Shandong and Shenzhen to the European ports of Vlissingen (Netherlands) and Bremerhaven (Germany). Although the ship bore BYD's branding, it was not owned by the company but was chartered from Zodiac Maritime, a firm controlled by Israeli shipowner Eyal Ofer.
Now, BYD has entered the next phase of its strategy, aiming to own eight newly built car carriers within two years. The first of these was delivered in September 2024 by Guangzhou Shipyard International and christened BYD Heifei (named after the city where BYD operates a factory). The ship measures 200 meters in length and 38 meters in width, with multi-deck garages that can accommodate up to 7,000 vehicles and sail at speeds of up to 18.5 knots. It is powered by a hybrid engine that runs on both traditional fuel and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Guangzhou Shipyard International is already constructing a sister ship, which will be the second to become operational, while another two are being built by CSSC Offshore & Marine Engineering, a subsidiary of China State Shipping Corporation. Despite the heavy tariffs imposed by the European Union on Chinese vehicles, BYD’s plans remain on course. The automaker has emerged as the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles, with 2,328,499 units manufactured in the first eight months of 2024 (according to CnEvPost), of which 264,869 were exported. According to JP Morgan, BYD is expected to produce six million vehicles by 2026, with 1.5 million destined for international markets.
At the IAA 2024 in Hannover, BYD also showcased three commercial vehicle models with gross vehicle weights ranging from 3.5 to 19 tons. Ceva Logistics announced it will start using four units from the heaviest range in the Netherlands by 2025. This means that in the near future, BYD’s new car carriers could also be transporting commercial vehicles for goods transport.
