There’s a new BYD in town, but this one is not a car. Instead, it’s a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessel with a 7,000-unit capacity called the BYD Zhengzhou, which has just made its maiden voyage to Southeast Asia.
Malaysia is one of the key stops on its multi-country tour, which also includes port calls in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore, with a final stop in Thailand before the vessel returns to China.
While the vessel bears the BYD name, the company is not a shipbuilder but an operator. The Zhengzhou is part of a seven-ship RORO fleet that forms an integral part of BYD’s expanding export strategy.
Thanks to the ship’s RORO method, cars can be driven directly on and off the vessel, much like a ferry. This offers substantial time and cost advantages compared to traditional container shipping methods.
RELATED: 2025 BYD Atto 2 launched in Malaysia – 410 km range, from RM100k!
With more efficient logistics, this allows BYD Malaysia and Sime Darby Motors to strengthen their partnership, which is supported by more than 35 BYD outlets nationwide, with a target of establishing 60 outlets by the end of 2026.
Sime Motors Southeast Asia Managing Director, Jeffrey Gan said, “This is a significant milestone in our partnership with BYD, symbolising confidence and the growing potential of Malaysia as a vital EV hub. With the enhanced regional supply chain provided by the BYD carrier vessel, we are now assured of shorter delivery times, enabling us to provide better customer satisfaction, making this a win-win situation for all involved.’
“This also prepares us to support greater volumes ahead, as we accelerate EV adoption in Malaysia through a dynamic ecosystem that spans retail, after-sales, and customer education as we make the shift towards cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable mobility. This is just the beginning, with more breakthrough innovations and strategic developments ahead,” he added.
The latest BYD model to hit Malaysian roads is the fully-electric (EV) BYD Atto 2, which was launched recently with a sticker price of RM100,000 on-the-road, without insurance.
With dimensions measuring 4,310 mm long, 1,830 mm wide, and 1,675 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm, the BYD Atto 2 is a smidge shorter and taller than the Proton X50 in the B-segment category.
Powering the BYD Atto 2 is a front-mounted electric motor that produces 177 hp (130 kW) and 290 Nm of torque, which enables a 0-100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds. Equipped with a 51.13 kWh BYD Blade Battery pack, the Atto 2 has a claimed range of 410 km (NEDC). Charging is supported via 7 kW AC and up to 82 kW DC fast charging, the latter of which enables a 30-80% recharge in approximately 30 minutes.
For safety systems, the BYD Atto 2 is equipped with a comprehensive suite of ADAS features, which include adaptive cruise control with intelligent cruise control, lane departure assist, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree surround view camera with transparent chassis functionality.
ALSO READ: BYD Seal updated in Indonesia with new DiSus-C adaptive suspension and mod-con updates
GALLERY
