Chinese EVs set to make bigger splash in Europe with huge new ships

BYD, SAIC tackle transport bottleneck that has held them back

New BYD cars wait to be loaded onto the BYD Explorer No. 1 for its maiden voyage in Yantai, in eastern China's Shandong province, on Jan. 10. (FeatureChina via AP)

EIKI HAYASHI, Nikkei staff writer

February 12, 2024 03:39 JST

FRANKFURT, Germany -- 2024 could go down as a symbolic year for the birthplace of the automobile as Chinese electric-vehicle makers' first big car ships arrive in Europe.

Later this month, the first of the roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships ordered by leading Chinese EV manufacturer BYD will stop at ports in the Netherlands and Germany.