After BYD, another Chinese carmaker is taking control of its export logistics: Geely has deployed its first dedicated car carrier, aiming to streamline vehicle exports and boost international sales.
Geely Automobile has joined the growing ranks of Chinese car manufacturers operating their own car carriers to transport vehicles they produce — a move designed to gain greater control over their global logistics chains.
The company has chartered the newly built “Jisu Fortune”, a 7,000 CEU vessel, on a long-term basis from Greek shipping company Zodiac Maritime. The LNG-powered car carrier was delivered this month by Yantai CIMC Raffles Shipyard.
It is the first vessel to be operated by Geely and is set to transport cars to the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium on its maiden voyage. Unlike competitors such as BYD, Geely currently has no plans to include Germany in its shipping routes.
Record year: Geely exports over 414,000 vehicles in 2024
The ship departed the Chinese port of Taicang on May 23. According to port director Shao Jianlin, Taicang is playing an increasingly important role in supporting China’s rising vehicle exports. Strategically located in the Yangtze River Delta, the port hosts the Haitong Taicang Auto Terminal, the largest RoRo terminal along the river.
Huang Hao, General Manager of Geely’s transport subsidiary Zhejiang Jisu Logistics, stated that the company plans to continue expanding its logistics network to meet growing international demand for Chinese-made vehicles.
Geely’s export figures reflect this trend: in 2024, the automaker exported 414,522 vehicles, marking a year-on-year increase of over 57% and surpassing its target of 380,000 units.
Executives believe the launch of “Jisu Fortune” will significantly enhance Geely’s international logistics capabilitiesand further support its global sales growth. Until now, the company relied on third-party carriers to ship vehicles abroad.
Since 2022, China Merchants RoRo Shipping, a subsidiary of China Merchants Energy Shipping, has handled Geely’s maritime transportation needs — delivering cars to destinations including the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and Southeast Asia. (PL)
