News / BYD launches logistics subsidiary – and eyes ports and shipping sectors

China’s BYD, the world’s largest EV maker, has launched a logistics subsidiary, with its eyes on expanding into ports and shipping.

Shanwei BYD Industry was incorporated this month and lists container shipping, NVOCC services, freight forwarding, warehousing, and stevedoring among its business scope, from its registered address in Shanwei, a city in Guangdong province, near BYD’s HQ in Shenzhen.

Shanwei BYD’s inception coincides with BYD’s entry into shipowning and operating, as the carmaker takes delivery of eight, owned and chartered, car-carriers to transport its EVs worldwide.

BYD received its first owned ship, the 7,000 ceu BYD Hefei, from Guangzhou Shipyard in January, followed in April by the BYD Shenzhen, which at 9,200 ceu  is the world’s largest car-carrier. Its maiden voyage was to Brazil.

BYD, which overtook Tesla as the world’s largest EV maker last year is building three other car-carriers at China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) for delivery this year, and has two others, BYD Explorer No 1 and BYD Changzhou, on long-term charter from UK-based Zodiac Maritime.

The establishment of Shanwei BYD emulates compatriot peers SAIC Motor and Geely Automobile, which have formed similar subsidiaries.

Prior to its own car-carrier fleet, BYD had been mainly working with Cosco to move its EVs in containers.