Despite the introduction of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports to Europe, the Chinese EV giant BYD is shipping so many vehicles to Europe that it has launched a second cargo ship, the Changzhou, which will soon set off for Europe with another shipment of cars.
In fact, the company plans to build 10 such cargo ships, setting off alarm bells from European auto manufacturers who cannot compete with China’s rapid auto production pace.
Chinese car manufacturers are steadily strengthening their position in the European market, and even in the face of imposed tariffs, they do not intend to slow down their expansion. An example is the BYD brand, which has made significant progress in recent years in the European market and is now expanding its vehicle offering under several brands.
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— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) May 12, 2024However, getting its cars to Europe remains a logistical challenge. The biggest problem is the limited availability of ships that can carry the new vehicles, which complicates the maritime aspect of the supply chain. In April, BYD announced that it was exporting so many electric vehicles that it would need to significantly expand its fleet.
To meet this challenge, the company built its own ship called the “Hefei,” which was officially presented in September 2024. This vessel can transport up to 7,000 vehicles at a time. In the meantime, BYD has begun investing in the construction of another transporter called the “Changzhou.” The new ship has already joined the fleet, showcasing China’s ability to build and deliver boats, cars, and infrastructure at a rapid pace.
The CEO of BYD’s corporate division announced that the manufacturer has officially taken delivery of the “Changzhou” ship, which will soon set off with another shipment of cars. The nearly 200-meter-long transporter can also carry 7,000 electric vehicles. Its name comes from the Chinese city where BYD has been building cars since early 2022.
According to Asian news sources, the new ship has already been launched and tested on short distances. It has successfully delivered a batch of 5,000 electric cars to the ports of Lianyungang and Taicang in Jiangsu Province. It will soon officially set off on an overseas journey to Europe. At the same time, Changzhou is the second ship wholly owned by BYD and the third in the manufacturer’s growing fleet of export ships.
10 ships planned
BYD has announced that this is not the end of the expansion of its transport fleet. In the next two years, more ships will join the Changzhou — the manufacturer wants to have 10 of them in total. This development could mean a big problem for European car manufacturers.
At the recent Paris Motor Show, Renault CEO Luca de Meo said that “Chinese brands are able to develop a car from scratch in two years, something that until now did not seem possible.”
Poland’s Interia newspaper warns that “if domestic manufacturers do not cope with the challenges related primarily to reducing costs, then we may soon all be driving cars from China.”
