Chinese BYD ships 7,000 vehicles to Türkiye, creates buzz on Turkish social media
Rows of Chinese BYD electric vehicles are lined up after being unloaded from the "BYD CHANGZHOU" ship at Safiport Derince Port in Kocaeli, Türkiye, on Apr. 6, 2025. (AA Photo)
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD’s roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ship, BYD Changzhou, arrived at Safiport Port in the Derince district of Kocaeli on Sunday, carrying 7,000 vehicles.
According to a statement from the company, the vessel departed from the Port of Ningbo in China on Feb. 25 for delivery operations. After a journey of approximately 39 days, it reached its destination in northwestern Türkiye.
Videos and images of Changzhou attracted the attention of Turkish social media, with many comments highlighting BYD’s growing strength in the market. Some users described the massive delivery as “an incredible growth momentum shaking up the entire auto market,” while others remarked, “It’s raining BYD in Türkiye.”
Some comments also highlighted the company’s production power, noting that while it took 15 years to produce its first 5 million new energy vehicles, BYD manufactured the next 5 million in just 15 months, with many praising the Chinese EV maker’s rapid expansion in the Turkish market.
The vessel, which was spotted passing through the Dardanelles and under the Osmangazi Bridge, is 199.9 meters long and 38 meters wide. With a gross tonnage of 69,250 and a net tonnage of 21,400, the ship enables efficient large-scale shipments.
BYD ships new models to its fastest-growing market
Powered by a dual-fuel propulsion system, the ship uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce carbon emissions — a move that aligns with the company’s global sustainability goals.
With new vehicle shipments to Türkiye, BYD continues to strengthen its presence in the market. According to data from the Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association (ODMD), BYD was the fastest-growing brand in the Turkish passenger car market in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
The company continues to expand its lineup in the Turkish market, launching the TANG model in March and bringing the total number of available BYD models in Türkiye to seven: DOLPHIN, ATTO 3, SEAL U DM-i, SEAL U EV, HAN, SEAL AWD, and TANG.
In the second half of April, BYD plans to launch the new Comfort trim of the DOLPHIN, followed by the SEALION 7 in the third quarter of the year — continuing its expansion of the product range available to Turkish consumers.
First carmaker to end fossil fuel vehicle production
In 2022, BYD became the first automaker to end the production of fossil fuel-powered vehicles. It was also the first company globally to produce 10 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles — a milestone achieved through rapid growth. While the first five million new energy vehicles were produced over 15 years, the next five million were manufactured in just 15 months, demonstrating BYD’s global production strength.
In 2023, BYD led global sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs), including plug-in hybrids and fully electric models, selling more than 4 million units that year.
Growing interest of Chinese EV makers in Türkiye
BYD has become the first Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer to invest in a production facility in Türkiye. The planned plant, located in the western province of Manisa, represents an investment of over $1 billion and is expected to begin operations by 2026.
Once operational, it will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, serving both domestic and export markets.
The investment comes amid ongoing trade measures in Europe, where electric vehicles manufactured in China — including those produced by BYD — are currently subject to a 17% import tariff. As a member of the customs union with the European Union, Türkiye is increasingly viewed by manufacturers as a strategic location for accessing European markets.
On Tuesday, the Shenzhen-based company reported that it delivered 986,098 passenger vehicles globally in the first quarter of 2025, including 416,388 pure electric vehicles — a 39% year-on-year increase. Europe remains a key growth region for sustaining this momentum, as, according to U.S.-based S&P Global Mobility, BYD’s European sales are projected to more than double from 83,000 units in 2024 to 186,000 units in 2025, with volumes expected to reach nearly 400,000 units by 2029.
Meanwhile, another Chinese EV manufacturer, Chery, is also in discussions with the Turkish government regarding a potential investment to establish a manufacturing plant in the northern province of Samsun.
