BYD Shenzhen, world’s largest 9,200-car vessel, undocked in China
BYD launched the world’s largest vehicle RoRo vessel, which can accommodate 9,200 cars. The carrier, named after the BYD’s HQ city, undocked in Yangzhou port on January 15.
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BYD Shenzhen is BYD’s fourth carrier. To fuel its global expansion, the company plans to have eight carriers in total by 2026. BYD is known for its massive vertical integration instead of relying on third-party suppliers. Thus, in addition to making cars, it produces its battery packs and cells, owns lithium mines, and operates an EV insurance company in China to cover all parts of the EV supply chain.
BYD Shenzhen has a length of 219 meters, 37.7 meters in width, and a draft of 9 meters. The maximum speed is 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h).
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BYD claims Shenzhen is the world’s most environmentally friendly vehicle RoRo ship. The new carrier uses LNG dual-fuel technology, which allows it to run both on LNG and traditional marine fuel. It is also equipped with energy-saving devices to enhance operational efficiency, according to BYD. BYD Shenzhen is the first carrier to feature BYD box stationary storage batteries. The company didn’t provide any details, but it will most likely power the ship during docking or in low-emission zones to reduce fuel consumption.
The Shenzhen-based automaker launched its first carrier a year ago, in January 2024, called BYD Explorer. It was followed by BYD Changzhou, launched in December 2024, and set sail to Europe with 5,000 EVs onboard.
Last week, BYD put into operation the 7000-car carrier BYD Hefei. The Company plans to have a fleet of eight carriers by the beginning of 2026.
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All eight BYD car carriers are designed as RoRO vessels. RoRo stands for roll-on/roll-off, a ship that carries vehicles driven on and off the boat via built-in ramps. These ramps may be located at the vessel’s stern, bow, or sides, allowing for efficient loading and unloading without cranes or other external equipment.
BYD exported 417,204 EVs in 2024, up 71,9% from 2023. The company sold 4.25 million passenger vehicles globally in 2024, which means exports accounted for about 10% of company sales.
In its latest move towards global presence, BYD entered South Korean market on January 17, launching Atto 3. The EV crossover will be followed by Seal sedan and Sealion 07 crossover later this year.
