BYD has added two new car-carrying ships, the Changsha and Xi’an, each capable of transporting 9,200 vehicles.

With these additions, BYD now operates six vessels with a total capacity of 45,600 vehicles.

Two more ships, carrying a combined 16,200 vehicles, are expected soon.

The Xi’an has already started its maiden voyage, delivering 7,000 EVs from Taicang, Jiangsu to markets in Europe, including Italy, the UK, Spain, and Belgium.

Between January and May 2025, BYD exported 374,200 vehicles, up 112% from the same period in 2024.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s brutal EV price war pushes manufacturers toward export markets

The intense domestic competition driving BYD’s export push represents a broader crisis in China’s EV market.

BYD’s recent price cuts of 10-30% across 22 models reflect the unsustainable pricing environment that’s forcing manufacturers to look abroad for profitability1.

This pricing pressure has become so severe that industry leaders have expressed concerns, with the People’s Daily warning against “disorderly price wars” that could harm the entire automotive ecosystem2.

The domestic price war has caused new car prices in China to fall approximately 19% over the past two years, creating a market where profit margins are increasingly difficult to maintain3.

By prioritizing international sales, where the same Dolphin Surf model sells for €22,990 in Europe versus just ¥69,800 ($9,726) in China, BYD can achieve significantly higher margins while escaping the cutthroat domestic competition.

2️⃣ Vertical integration through shipping fleets represents a new phase in China’s export strategy

Chinese automakers’ investments in dedicated shipping fleets mark a strategic evolution in their global expansion ambitions.

The trend extends beyond BYD, with SAIC Motor operating 36 vessels and competitors like Chery and Geely also building their own fleets to control their export supply chains4.

Recent BYD developments