BYD's massive car carrier launches with record EV shipment
BYD Shenzhen is both the largest and the newest car carrier in the world. Its owner is the Chinese company BYD, a manufacturer of electric cars. It has already embarked on its maiden voyage with a cargo of 7,000 electric vehicles.
The BYD Shenzhen set sail on April 27 from the port of Taicang in Jiangsu province. The car carrier is headed towards the coast of Brazil and has over 7,000 new BYD electric vehicles on board. According to "Rzeczpospolita," the Chinese company claims that the ship can accommodate up to 9,200 cars. The deck area is equivalent to about 20 soccer fields.
The ship is 722 feet long and 125 feet wide, featuring 16 decks. Its operational speed is 19 knots. The owner took delivery of it from the shipyard just five days before the maiden voyage. It is powered by both LPG fuel and traditional marine fuel. Additionally, it is equipped with traction batteries, which—similar to hybrids—will provide electrical energy during docking and in environmentally protected areas.
"Rz" reports that BYD has four of its own car carriers. The manufacturer is awaiting the delivery of a fifth ship, the BYD Changsha, which also has space for 9,200 new cars.
BYD is a prominent Chinese brand in the global market. In 2024, the Chinese manufacturer achieved historic financial results, recording an annual revenue of $107 billion, surpassing Tesla's $97.7 billion. The company is rapidly expanding its international presence, increasing exports by 72% and investing $6.4 billion in new factories in Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Brazil.
