Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD announced the maiden voyage of its third car carrier, the BYD Hefei, as it set sail for Europe carrying nearly 5,000 vehicles. The vessel, completed in September 2024, is the first ship in BYD’s fleet directly owned by the company.
The BYD Hefei, named after the city housing one of BYD’s major production facilities, measures 199.9 meters in length, has a beam of 38 meters, and a design speed of 18.5 knots (34 km/h). It features a dual-fuel ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) design with a 7,000-car capacity. The vessel was built by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd, with its undocking ceremony held in September 2024 to signify its readiness for operational deployment.
This milestone comes as BYD strengthens its logistical capabilities to support global expansion. The company previously introduced the BYD Explorer No. 1 in January 2024 and added the BYD Changzhou to its fleet in December 2024. Over the next two years, BYD plans to operate seven more car carriers to enhance its shipping capacity.
BYD’s growing fleet reflects its aggressive push into international markets, with 2024 overseas sales reaching 417,204 vehicles, a 71.86% year-on-year increase. This contributed 9.77% to its total annual NEV sales of 4,272,145 units, which represented a 41.26% year-on-year growth.
The BYD Explorer No. 1, a 7,000-CEU vessel built by CIMC Raffles for Zodiac Maritime, marked BYD’s initial foray into automotive shipping. The addition of BYD Hefei and BYD Changzhou further solidifies BYD’s position as a vertically integrated global NEV leader, capable of managing production and distribution logistics.
