World’s largest car carrier begins maiden voyage with 7,000 EVs
BYD Shenzhen is both the largest and newest car carrier in the world. It is owned by the Chinese conglomerate BYD, a manufacturer of electric cars. It has already embarked on its maiden voyage carrying 7,000 electric cars.
BYD Shenzhen set sail on 27th April from the port of Taicang in Jiangsu Province. The car carrier is heading towards the coast of Brazil, and on board are over 7,000 new BYD electric cars. As reported by "Rzeczpospolita", the Chinese conglomerate claims the ship can accommodate as many as 9,200 cars. The surface area of its decks is equivalent to about 20 football pitches.
The ship is 722 feet long and 125 feet wide, with 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. It is also equipped with traction batteries that, similar to hybrids, will provide electrical energy during docking and in environmentally protected areas.
"Rz" points out that BYD has four of its own car carriers. The manufacturer is awaiting the delivery of a fifth ship - BYD Changsha, which also has room for 9,200 new cars.
BYD is a significant Chinese brand in the global market. In 2024, the Chinese manufacturer achieved historic financial results, with an annual revenue of 107 billion dollars (£80 billion), surpassing Tesla (97.7 billion dollars (£73,6 billion)). The company is dynamically expanding its international presence, increasing exports by 72 per cent and investing 5 billion pounds in new factories in Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Brazil.
