Chinese BYD launches world’s largest vehicle carrier ‘Shenzhen’

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, BYD launched the world’s largest vehicle carrier “Shenzhen, ” capable of accommodating up to 9,200 cars.

Shenzhen-based auto giant is now taking delivery of ships they ordered 2-3 years ago, making them not only the sole producer globally with their own fleet of ships but also positioning them as one of the world’s largest companies.

The fourth car carrier in BYD’s fleet was undocked from Yangzhou Port on Friday, following the deployment of the 7,000-car carrier BYD Hefei last week. The Shenzhen is 219 meters (718.50 feet) long, 37.7 meters wide, and has a maximum speed of 18.5 knots with a 9-meter draft.

BYD claims Shenzhen is the world’s most environmentally friendly car carrier, as the vessel utilizes liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel technology, enabling it to run on both LNG and traditional marine fuel.

It is also equipped with energy-saving features and BYD Box stationary batteries for storage, allowing it to power itself while docking or operating in low-emission zones, thereby reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Sets sight on an even larger vehicle carrier by 2026

The company’s existing fleet includes:

• BYD Explorer No.1: Capacity for 7,000 vehicles.
• BYD Changzhou: A 199-meter vessel with a 7,000-car capacity.
• BYD Hefei: Entered service in January 2025, with a capacity of 7,000 vehicles.

These vehicle carriers referred to as “Ro-Ro” (Roll-on/Roll-off) ships, are specifically designed to transport vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, and trailers. The vehicles are driven directly onto the ship (roll-on) and offloaded in the same manner (roll-off).

BYD’s future goals in this domain include building the first Ro-Ro ship with a 10,000-vehicle capacity and establishing the world’s largest Ro-Ro fleet by 2026.