China car export logistics shift

In early July 2026 Chinese automakers faced a severe shortage of roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) vessels needed for their booming electric‑vehicle exports. To keep shipments flowing, firms such as Leapmotor partnered with COSCO Shipping to use flat‑rack steel frames that can be lifted onto bulk cargo ships, and COSCO introduced fold‑up frames that stack up to eight layers, allowing a single vessel to carry over 1,000 cars. Container solutions also expanded, with 40‑foot containers fitting two to four vehicles.

By late July, export data showed China had shipped more than 4 million passenger vehicles in the first five months of 2026 – a 63 % rise on the prior year. Analysts estimated around two million cars would be moved in containers in 2026, roughly twice the volume handled by dedicated car carriers in 2025. The surge forced shippers to secure container space on Asia‑Europe, Middle‑East and South‑America routes and to develop special securing systems for EVs with lithium‑ion batteries. The logistics transformation underscores how Chinese manufacturers are reshaping global maritime transport, while smaller foreign automakers such as the U.S.‑based Saleen Automotive struggle to adapt amid the Chinese dominance.