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China’s electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has marked two major milestones in its maritime logistics push, with the launch of BYD Xi’an and the maiden voyage of BYD Shenzhen, both LNG-powered roll-on/roll-off car carriers.
The launch of BYD Xi’an, announced on April 2 via the company’s official Weibo account, adds a sixth vessel to BYD’s growing pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) fleet. Named after the capital of Shaanxi province, the Xi’an reflects the company’s intent to tighten control over its own global vehicle exports, shifting from reliance on chartered tonnage to a purpose-built shipping arm.
The move comes just months after the Shenzhen, another LNG-capable vessel, was launched in January 2025. Now setting out on its maiden voyage, the Shenzhen is being touted as the world’s largest car carrier, stretching 219.9 meters in length and 37.7 meters wide, with a capacity of 9,200 vehicles and a top speed of 18.5 knots.
Both vessels are part of BYD’s CNY 5 billion (USD 687 million) investment plan, announced in 2022, to build an eight-ship RoRo fleet by 2026. The dual-fuel design allows for use of both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and conventional marine fuels—highlighting the manufacturer’s attempt to reduce carbon emissions while scaling up exports.
The earlier deliveries of BYD Explorer No.1 in January 2024 and Changzhou in December 2024 marked the first concrete steps in this direction. These were ordered by Zodiac Maritime, a US-based shipping company, and leased to BYD. The third vessel, BYD Hefei, launched in January 2025, became the first fully-owned PCTC in the fleet.
Each vessel is designed to transport over 7,000 vehicles, and with the latest additions—Changsha unveiled in March, and now Xi’an and Shenzhen—the company is rapidly approaching its goal of moving over one million vehicles annually by sea.
All eight vessels are being built at two Chinese shipyards: Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited and CIMC Raffles. The capacity growth aligns with China’s broader ambition to strengthen its auto export supply chain and lessen dependence on foreign shipping lines.
This fleet strategy is not just about scale, but about securing flexibility and predictability in global deliveries—critical for an automaker trying to stay competitive in the fiercely contested EV export market. By betting on LNG and ship ownership, BYD is attempting to carve out its own shipping corridor, one vessel at a time.
source: OffShore E
