While European inspectors have arrived in China as part of the investigation into subsidies granted to certain manufacturers, a freighter is heading in the opposite direction. The BYD Explorer 1 has just begun its maiden voyage.
This ship was built especially for the Chinese electric car giant, which surpassed Tesla in the last quarter of 2023 in terms of global sales.
7,000 vehicles on board
This ship that bears the logo of the Chinese brand is almost 200 meters long, reaches a speed of up to 19 knots (35 km/h) and can transport up to 7,000 vehicles, it says. Bloomberg.
For this first voyage, BYD Explorer 1 departed from Longkou, a port city in northeastern China, then stopped in Yantai on January 9, before heading to Shenzen, where BYD is headquartered, and then joining Europe.
In total, BYD has ordered eight ships, noted an article in Automobile Propre last November. Vessels powered by liquefied natural gas (hence the acronym “LNG Powered” that appears on the hull) or fuel oil.
Growth strategy in Europe
This ship is part of the strategy of BYD, a global electric car giant that still generates a large part of its sales in China. To gain momentum, the brand seeks to develop its sales internationally and, in particular, in Europe.
Beyond importing its vehicles from China, BYD also wants to establish itself sustainably in Europe. The group has just announced the construction of an electric car factory in Hungary, where it already assembles buses. Enough to once again benefit from the French ecological bonus, which is now reserved for vehicles produced in Europe.
Source: BFM TV
