Ship transports more than 7,000 vehicles and marks a new stage in the Chinese automaker’s expansion in Latin America
The BYD Shenzhen automotive supercarrier, considered the largest in the world in its category, began its first international voyage on April 27, heading to Brazil. The vessel departed from the Jiangsu port in China, carrying over 7,000 electrified vehicles — including electric and plug-in hybrid models — strengthening BYD’s growth strategy in the Brazilian market, which is currently its main focus outside of Asia.
The fourth roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ship from the automaker, the BYD Shenzhen impresses with its size: nearly 220 meters in length, 37.7 meters in width, and 12 decks exclusively for transporting automobiles. With a capacity of up to 9,200 vehicles per trip, its area is comparable to 20 football fields.
The vessel also stands out due to its dual propulsion technology, operating with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and traditional fuel. It can reach speeds of up to 18.5 knots — the equivalent of about 34.3 km/h. The official delivery of the ship took place on April 22, just five days before its departure for Brazil.
Since 2024, BYD has accelerated its operations in the country, with a focus on the Song Pro and Dolphin Mini models, which boosted the brand’s performance as the fastest-growing brand in the national market last year.
In just the first quarter of 2025, the company exported over 25,000 vehicles via its own maritime fleet — part of the 206,000 units sold internationally during that period, a 110% increase over the same period the previous year. The use of its own ships is one of the company’s strategies to reduce logistics costs and increase efficiency in global transport.
In addition to the Shenzhen, BYD operates three other RoRo vessels: Explorer No.1, Changzhou, and Hefei. Two new ships are on their way: the Changsha, scheduled for delivery in May, and the Xi’an, with no defined start date for operations.
The arrival of the BYD Shenzhen in South America marks a new chapter in the automaker’s internationalization, reaffirming its bet on the potential of the Brazilian market and the expansion of its fleet of sustainable vehicles throughout the region.
Source and images: Inside EVs / Publicity. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
