China’s BYD has launched a new car carrier, the BYD Xi’an, to support its growing global new energy vehicle (NEV) exports, with a second vessel, the BYD Changsha, scheduled to begin operations later this week.
The BYD Xi’an—delivered on June 21 in Yizheng, Jiangsu province—marks the company’s fifth cargo ship and is one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel car carriers in operation worldwide. It boasts 9,200 standard vehicle loading spaces, 16 decks, and a service speed of 19 knots. Named after the city of Xi’an, home to one of BYD’s major auto manufacturing hubs, the vessel will enhance BYD’s shipping capacity for international markets.
“[The new ship] will further expand BYD’s fleet size and accelerate the company’s global expansion,” the company said in a statement, emphasizing the strategic importance of its growing logistics infrastructure in reducing overseas delivery times and costs.
The BYD Xi’an is a sister vessel to the BYD Shenzhen, currently the only other ship in BYD’s fleet with a similar capacity. Other vessels in the company’s lineup include BYD Explorer No. 1, BYD Hefei, and BYD Changzhou. The upcoming BYD Changsha is scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage on June 24, bringing the fleet’s total to six.
The expansion comes amid rapid sales growth. BYD sold 1.76 million NEVs in the first five months of 2025, up 38.7% year-on-year. Overseas deliveries surged 112.13%, with 374,217 units sold abroad, accounting for over 21% of total volume. Chairman Wang Chuanfu has set an ambitious 2025 sales target of 5.5 million vehicles, including more than 800,000 units to international markets.