A new car carrier joins the fleet of SAIC’s Anji Logistics, bringing the total number of vessels to 31.
(Image credit: SAIC)
A new car carrier for Chinese auto giant SAIC Motor Corp has launched its maiden voyage, bringing its fleet to 31 vessels, as it surpasses 1.2 million annual overseas sales.
It’s a 7,600-CEU (car equivalent unit) roll-on/roll-off vessel commissioned by SAIC and built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, according to a January 17 SAIC announcement.
The vessel joins the fleet of SAIC’s Anji Logistics, bringing the logistics company’s fleet to 31 vessels.
As of now, Anji has China’s largest fleet operated by a car company and operates seven international routes from China to Southeast Asia, Mexico, South America and Europe, SAIC said.
Within three years, 14 ocean-going carriers, including the 7000-CEU, 7600-CEU, 7800-CEU, and 9000-CEU classes, will join Anji’s fleet, SAIC said.
The new vessel is 200 meters long, 38 meters wide, has a height of 13 floors and a displacement of over 40,000 tons. It is powered by LNG dual-fuel and is capable of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent, according to the automaker.
It will sail to Europe on its maiden voyage with vehicles from SAIC, Dongfeng, and Yutong Bus, SAIC said.
SAIC’s vehicles exported and sold from overseas bases amounted to 1,208,242 in 2023, an increase of 18.75 percent from 2022, according to data it released earlier this month.
That includes 360,000 vehicles sold in the Americas, 330,000 in Europe, 270,000 in Asia, 150,000 in the Middle East and Africa and 100,000 in Oceania, it said yesterday.
SAIC is aiming to see overseas sales reach 1.35 million units in 2024, local media outlet The Paper said in a report yesterday, citing Zhao Aimin, vice president of SAIC Motor International.
SAIC’s overseas sales target for 2025 is 1.5 million units, he said, adding that the company is capable of challenging higher targets.
MG, a well-known international brand owned by SAIC, sold more than 840,000 units globally in 2023. MG is targeting sales of more than 1 million vehicles by 2024, SAIC said.
SAIC’s premium brands including IM Motors, and Rising Auto will also go global, but may be presented differently in terms of branding, Zhao said.
BYD’s 1st car carrier sets sail fully loaded, 7 more to join fleet in next 2 years
