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BYD reportedly ordered ten new car carrier ships, with deliveries between 2027 and 2029, raising its fleet from eight to 18 vessels. Each unit will have a capacity of approximately 9,200 vehicles, while annual export capacity could rise from about 1 million to 2.5 million vehicles.
BYD is said to have ordered ten new vessels capable of transporting around 9,200 vehicles each, expanding a fleet that currently consists of eight ships. The announcement was made in September 2026, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029, to be constructed at the Jinling and Haimen shipyards in China.
According to Xataka, in a publication dated September 16, 2026, the information about the order was attributed to New Ships. With the addition of ten new carriers, BYD would increase its fleet from eight to 18 ships, surpassing a combined capacity of 130 thousand CEUs, while estimates cited by CarNewsChina indicate the potential to transport up to around 2.5 million vehicles per year.
BYD reportedly ordered ten ships with a capacity of 9,200 vehicles each
The new order involves ten car carrier ships, each designed to carry approximately 9,200 cars and trucks. The vessels are to be produced by China Merchants Industry at its Jinling and Haimen shipyards, with deliveries scheduled over three years.
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The size is noteworthy because this individual capacity is already at the same level as the BYD Shenzhen, a vessel that began operations in 2025 and was presented as the largest car carrier in the world, with space for approximately 9,200 units. Thus, this order would multiply similar-sized vessels within the automaker’s logistics.
Fleet would grow from eight to 18 vessels by 2029
BYD established its current maritime structure in a relatively short period. The first vessel in the fleet, the Explorer No. 1, was delivered in January 2024, and eight ships have since made up the operation designed to transport the manufacturer’s vehicles to international markets.
If the ten new units are delivered as reported, the fleet will jump from eight to 18 ships between 2027 and 2029. The total would exceed 130 thousand CEUs, a measurement used in maritime transport to represent the equivalent number of cars that can be accommodated on the vessels.
Having dedicated ships also reduces dependency on chartered space in third-party vessels. For a manufacturer that is rapidly increasing its export volume from China, controlling a larger portion of maritime logistics means reducing exposure to a critical bottleneck: the global availability of ships specialized in transporting vehicles.
Export Capacity May Rise from 1 Million to 2.5 Million Cars
The original fleet of eight ships would allow BYD to move approximately 1 million vehicles per year, according to estimates cited from the source. Adding ten additional car carrier ships with similar capacity could potentially increase this volume to around 2.5 million cars annually.
This figure should be understood as a logistical capacity estimate rather than a guarantee that the company will actually export 2.5 million units in a given year. Achieving this volume also depends on factors like production, international demand, ship utilization, port availability, and commercial destinations keeping pace with the fleet expansion.
Nevertheless, the scale helps illustrate the size of the infrastructure the company is preparing. Rather than solely relying on vehicle manufacturing, BYD is also bolstering the infrastructure needed to physically transport these cars to other continents.
BYD Exports Advance as International Operations Gain Traction
The 2026 figures help explain why maritime logistics gained importance. In August alone, BYD exported 184,000 passenger vehicles produced in China, a 131% increase compared to the same period the previous year, according to data reproduced by Xataka.
From January to August, more than 1.1 million vehicles were shipped abroad, an 88% increase over the same period last year. This volume represented more than one-third of China’s new energy vehicle exports during that time.
This progress creates a physical need: producing more cars for other markets requires finding enough space to transport them out of the country. It is precisely at this stage that having large ships becomes a strategic part of the manufacturer’s international expansion.
Sales in China Follow Opposite Trajectory
While exports have grown, domestic market data presented by the source shows a different direction. BYD’s main brand sold about 184,000 cars in China in August, a 35% decrease year-on-year.
Year-to-date, domestic sales are reported to have fallen 43%, according to figures cited by CarNewsChina. This scenario takes place in a market characterized by intense competition among over 100 electric vehicle brands and a price war that pressures manufacturers’ profitability.
The source further states that profit margins in the Chinese automotive sector have dropped to approximately 3.2% in the first quarter of 2026. In this context, expanding overseas becomes not just an additional opportunity but increasingly vital to the commercial strategy of Chinese automakers.
Owned Ships Reduce One of the Bottlenecks in International Expansion
Exporting automobiles on a large scale relies on specialized vessels known as car carrier ships. When this capacity is insufficient, manufacturers have to compete for available space and become more exposed to freight prices, third-party schedules, and limited availability.
With a fleet of 18 ships, BYD would have greater control over shipping schedules, especially during rapid international sales growth. This doesn’t eliminate all logistical challenges but reduces dependence on external companies for a crucial distribution stage.
The strategy also creates an unusual integration between manufacturing and transportation. The car comes off the assembly line and can be placed on a maritime structure organized specifically to meet the automaker’s needs.
BYD Prepares Structure to Sell Increasingly More Outside China
The contrast between the markets helps explain the significance of the decision. While domestic sales are declining, exports are advancing at a rapid pace, requiring BYD to have a structure capable of handling volumes much higher than just a few years ago.
If the ten new ships are delivered between 2027 and 2029 as reported, the company will have progressed from its first vessel received in 2024 to 18 large car carrier ships in approximately five years. The theoretical annual transport capacity could increase from about 1 million to approximately 2.5 million vehicles.
More than adding ships to the fleet, this move signals a logistical preparation for a BYD increasingly less dependent solely on the Chinese market. The manufacturer seems to be building maritime capacity even before needing to utilize all that space, betting that international growth will continue to absorb a growing number of vehicles.
What do you think, do you believe that controlling a fleet of 18 ships could become a decisive advantage for BYD in the global electric car race, or will the biggest challenge continue to be winning consumers outside of China? Share your opinion in the comments.
