Chinese automakers are using creative solutions to transport vehicles abroad due to a shortage of specialized Roll-on/Roll-off carriers.
Chinese automakers are adopting unconventional methods to move vehicles abroad amid a shortage of specialised Roll-on/Roll-off carriers, reported Beijing's CarNewsChina.
Stellantis-backed Leapmotor has used COSCO Shipping's 'Flat Rack' system to secure cars on metal frames loaded onto conventional cargo ships. The company has already sent more than 1,800 vehicles to Brazil using this method, before tapping Stellantis's logistics network for final delivery.
Container shipping has also gained traction as a flexible and cost-effective option. Industry standards now regulate safety, with a 40-foot container typically holding two to four vehicles.
COSCO Shipping has converted its 62,000-dwt pulp carriers into multipurpose vessels using foldable frames. These ships can carry over 1,000 cars per voyage, stacking vehicles up to eight layers high. The company has also developed the V-Rack, a wider frame for commercial vehicles.
Despite these innovations, roll-on/roll-off ships remain dominant in global vehicle transport. BYD, the world's largest maker of new energy vehicles, has commissioned its own fleet of car carriers, several of which have already entered service.
