BYD launches world’s largest car carrier

The fight for global electric vehicle domination has turned a new corner, with Tesla’s future on the line against a new weapon from China.

BYD’s electric vehicle war with Tesla took a new turn this month as it introduced an enormous new ship designed to take its vehicles around the world.

The growing car manufacturer is accelerating its plans to grow beyond China, with a fleet of enormous new car-carrying ships.

One of them, the BYD Shenzen, is the largest car carrier in the world, capable of moving some 9200 vehicles at a time.

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BYD has invested heavily in enormous new ships. Picture: Supplied

The huge ship is currently underway on its maiden journey, a trip from China to Brazil loaded with thousands of cars bound for South America.

Having overtaken Tesla as the world’s number one EV producer, BYD reported a 100 per cent increase in profits in the first quarter of 2025.

That jump saw BYD’s profit jump from almost AUD $1 billion up to AUD $1.98 billion.

BYD XI'AN hits the waves, as the world's largest roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) carrier, BYD SHENZHEN, prepares to make its mark at sea.

Drive the future. Sail with BYD.#BYD#BuildYourDreamspic.twitter.com/82txjrnNNb

— BYD Global (@BYDGlobal) April 4, 2025

It follows a much trickier reporting period for Tesla, which reported a significant drop in the same period, with profits falling by 71 per cent.

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BYD’s plans for global domination have been slowed by US tariffs. Photo: GREG BAKER / AFP

Tesla will look to its new Model Y for a boost in Australian sales next month after a difficult start to the year.

The Model Y – the best-selling electric vehicle not only in Australia, but around the globe – has benefited from a significant update including sharp new looks and a more luxurious cabin with a digital display in the back seat.

BYD’s Sealion 7 is chasing down the Tesla Model Y. Picture: Mark Bean

Tesla owners on Facebook have been closely watching the brand’s shipping activity, eagerly anticipating the arrival of its new Model Y.

One of the brand’s car carriers, the Grand Pace, delivered scores of new Model Y vehicles to NSW over the weekend before making its way to Victoria.

The Grand Pace ship has arrived in Australia, carrying Tesla's Model Y. Picture: Facebook / Tesla Owners Australia

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The new vehicle should deliver a much-needed sales increase for Elon Musk’s band.

Deliveries of the new Tesla could also be temporarily supercharged by a controversial change in electric vehicle policy by the Coalition, which has promised to reduce electric vehicle subsidies if elected this weekend.

Liberal Leader Peter Dutton has promised to end a popular EV Discount implemented by the Albanese Government to make electric cars more affordable to lease.

The change could add $20,000 to the cost of electric cars.

The policy originally applied to electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles, before hybrid cars were excluded from the discount on April 1 this year.

Originally published as BYD launches world’s largest car carrier