Now it is worth noting that not all 7,000 BYD EVs on board are destined to be making its way onto Malaysian roads.
Prepare to see a lot more BYD cars on Malaysian roads, as the Chinese EV giant has recently ramped up its regional logistics with the arrival of the BYD Zhengzhou at North Port, Port Klang. This marks the maiden Southeast Asian voyage for BYD’s seventh roll-on/roll-off (RORO) carrier vessel, which incidentally is capable of transporting up to 7,000 fully-built vehicles.
While not all units onboard are destined for Malaysia — with shipments also headed to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore — this development underscores Malaysia’s growing significance in BYD’s Asia Pacific strategy, where it already leads in fully-electric vehicle sales.
“This is a significant milestone in our partnership with BYD,” said Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director of Sime Motors, Southeast Asia. “It symbolises growing confidence in Malaysia as a key EV hub and ensures shorter delivery times for customers, enhancing satisfaction across the board.”
Gan added that the arrival of the BYD Zhengzhou prepares the local arm for increased vehicle volumes as the brand accelerates efforts to expand EV adoption through a robust ecosystem of retail outlets, after-sales support, and customer education.
For BYD, operating its own fleet of shipping vessels offers greater control over its global EV supply chain, particularly at a time when China leads the world in EV exports. These vessels are a vital piece of the brand’s international expansion, allowing BYD to maintain delivery timelines and manage logistics at scale amid growing demand.
The RORO shipping method, where vehicles are driven directly on and off the vessel, offers a significant edge over traditional container shipping by reducing both time and cost. As a purpose-built EV carrier, the BYD Zhengzhou is part of a broader fleet expansion that includes the BYD Shenzhen, one of the world’s largest EV carriers with a 9,200-unit capacity.
“The carrier vessel reinforces our strong ties to Malaysia, which we see as instrumental to our growth in Asia Pacific,” said Eagle Zhao, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia. “With this added delivery capacity, we’re now able to serve customers more efficiently and reliably than ever before.”
Currently, BYD Malaysia offers a six-model lineup: Dolphin, Atto 2, Atto 3, M6, Seal, and Sealion, alongside the Denza D9 all-electric luxury MPV under its premium sub-brand. With over 35 BYD outlets nationwide and a target of 60 outlets by the end of 2026, the brand is quickly expanding its footprint in Malaysia to meet the surging local EV demand.
