It is not yet clear whether Chinese automaker BYD will build a plant in Mexico, but the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer underscored its commitment to the Mexican market by dispatching one of its own car carrier ships to ports in Sinaloa and Michoacán this month.

The BYD Changzhou, a 200-meter-long roll-on/roll-off ship that flies the flag of the West African country Liberia, docked in the ports of Mazatlán and Lázaro Cárdenas this month, delivering a total of 5,503 vehicles.

The BYD CHANGZHOU, the first vessel from BYD, arrived at the Port of Mazatlán, where the unloading of automobiles began. This important operation marks a clear step toward the future of the automotive industry in the country, helping improve port logistics and positioning Mexico… pic.twitter.com/s5wosiBBkI

— Maritimex (@MaritimexMX) June 16, 2025

BYD has been selling cars in Mexico since 2023, but hadn’t previously brought vehicles to the country on one of its own ships.

In a video filmed at the port in Mazatlán, BYD México president Ray Zou said that the arrival of the company’s Changzhou vessel is not only a “milestone” for BYD, “but also shows how important the Mexican market is for BYD globally.”

“… In the future, BYD will continue to provide more reliable and fancy products to the Mexican market,” he said.

The BYD Changzhou, named after the Jiangsu province city where the company has a plant, is one of four BYD vessels that are currently in service. The company announced the delivery of its fifth vehicle carrier on Saturday, according to the state-owned China Daily.

The BYD Changzhou delivered 2,000 vehicles to the port in Mazatlán, where it arrived on June 6, and 3,503 to the port in Lázaro Cárdenas.

Mauricio Ortiz, general director of the Mazatlán Maritime Terminal, said that the arrival of the ship “reinforces the strategic position of Mazatlán in automotive sector logistics chains.”