BYD Shenzen, its new 9,200-car ro-ro vessel, has officially launched. BYD's new car carrier is the world's largest as the EV giant expands overseas. After increasing sales last year, China's EV leader is seeking global market share by 2025.
BYD Shenzen is emerging as the largest car carrier in the world
BYD sold a record 4.25 million new electric vehicles (NEVs) last year, more than 40% more than it did in 2023. That includes electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
Although many automakers have yet to release full-year sales results, BYD is expected to surpass several global automotive leaders, such as Ford, Honda, and Nissan. Meanwhile, this year could be even bigger for China's biggest automaker.
According to a new report from China News Service (via IT Home), BYD Shenzen, the company's fourth ro-ro (roll-on/Roll-off) vessel, has completed the reverse and is ready to go.
BYD's new car carrier is the largest in the world, capable of transporting up to 9,200 vehicles. Starting in 2024, BYD has launched four ro-ro ships as it expands into new overseas markets.
The first, BYD Explorer No 1, was launched in January 2024. It has already completed several trips to Europe, including Spain and Germany, and also stopped in Brazil.
The second BYD (BYD Changzhou) started operating in early December 2024, followed by BYD Hefei, which started last week. All three can carry up to 7,000 vehicles.
The Hefei arrived at sea last week, carrying 5,000 NEVs. BYD said the ship will “accelerate the manufacturing process of new energy vehicles in China.”
BYD Shenzen, named after its hometown, is not only the largest in the world but also the most environmentally friendly. According to the report, the new ship includes BYD brand battery packs and shaft belt generators for the first time.
Electrek's Take
BYD has already entered 100 countries and regions around the world, but expects further growth by 2025. After producing more than 1.77 million vehicles last year, BYD surpassed Tesla by about 4,500 units to become the world's largest EV manufacturer.
Meanwhile, Tesla has launched fewer fully electric vehicles, with 1.78 million by 2024, compared to BYD's 1.76 million.
With the influx of new competitors in China, BYD is aggressively expanding overseas. After entering Japan in 2023, a market dominated by domestic automakers, BYD sold more EVs than Toyota in 2024.
After launching its first EV in South Korea this week, which starts at just over $20,000, BYD will now challenge Hyundai and Korea on their home turf.
BYD's growing presence is forcing automakers to take drastic measures to keep up. After falling behind, Japan's Nissan and Honda are now teaming up in EVs to fend off BYD's momentum.
In Thailand, or the “Detroit of Asia,” as it's called, Japanese automakers have watched their market shares drop from 90% to just 76% over the past two years amid BYD's rise.
With the launch of new vehicles in Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Singapore, Thailand, and many other regions this year, BYD is poised for further growth in 2025.
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