BYD Zhengzhou ship delivers BYD cars to Malaysia – shorter delivery times, greater volumes promised

A new BYD has landed in Malaysia. It’s huge, and unlike the others sold here, it’s combustion engined rather than electric. But it’s not a car.

This is the BYD Zhengzhou, a brand-spanking-new (delivered to the carmaker just last month) roll-on/roll-off (RORO) carrier vessel that has shipped a batch of CBU BYD vehicles headed for Malaysian customers. Its docking at North Port in Port Klang on Tuesday is the penultimate stop of the ship’s maiden voyage to Southeast Asia, having already dropped off cars in the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. It will make one more stop in Thailand before returning to China, the company says.

Named after the city in which BYD’s giant automotive factory complex is located, the Zhengzhou has a capacity of 7,000 vehicles. Its RORO configuration means that cars can be driven directly on and off the vessel rather than being carried into the ship by container, providing significant time and cost savings and leading to claimed shorter delivery times and greater volume.

Zhengzhou is the seventh vessel in BYD’s fleet of purpose-built carriers, underlining the significance of exports and the carmaker’s commitment to the Malaysian market. Operating its own fleet gives the company greater control over a crucial part of its supply chain and enables it to meet the global demand of EVs that will potentially grow over the next few years.

The batch of Malaysian-market vehicles includes the Atto 3, the M6 and the newly-launched Atto 2; the latter means that deliveries should start soon, not long after its local debut two weeks ago.

“This is a significant milestone in our partnership with BYD, symbolising confidence and the growing potential of Malaysia as a vital EV hub,” said Sime Motors Southeast Asia managing director Jeffrey Gan. “With the enhanced regional supply chain provided by the BYD carrier vessel, we are now assured of shorter delivery times, enabling us to provide better customer satisfaction, making this a win-win situation for all involved.

“This also prepares us to support greater volumes ahead, as we accelerate EV adoption in Malaysia through a dynamic ecosystem that spans retail, after-sales and customer education as we make the shift towards cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable mobility. This is just the beginning, with more breakthrough innovations and strategic developments ahead.”

BYD Malaysia managing director Eagle Zhao added: “The carrier vessel plays a key role in heightening BYD’s global ambition and reinforces our ties to Malaysia which we view as instrumental to our growth in Asia Pacific. Built to enhance delivery capabilities, the BYD Zhengzhou ensures faster and more reliable deliveries directly to our customers here.”

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