Wedoany.com Report-Jun 23, The Terminal Marítima de Mazatlán (Tmaz), operated by Chilean company SAAM Terminals, became Mexico’s first port to receive a vessel from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD. The LNG-powered BYD Changzhou docked at the port earlier this week in June 2025, unloading 2,000 electric vehicles destined for central and northern Mexico.
The pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), measuring 199.9 meters in length and 38 meters in beam, has a capacity to transport 7,000 vehicles. Built by CIMC Raffles, a subsidiary of China International Marine Containers, it was delivered to BYD in late 2024. Tmaz expects to receive at least one roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel from BYD monthly. In 2024, the port handled over 160,000 vehicle units, ranking as the second-largest vehicle operator on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Mauricio Ortiz, General Manager at Tmaz, stated: “The arrival of the BYD Changzhou at Tmaz consolidates the port as a strategic reference in the automotive import of the Mexican Pacific and underlines its fundamental role in the transition towards sustainable mobility.”
The global rise in electric vehicle exports has increased demand for car-carrying vessels. In a related development, China Merchants Industry Haimen Base launched the world’s first 9,300 CEU methanol dual-fuel car carrier, CM Hong Kong, a month ago. Ordered by China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), a subsidiary of China Merchants Group, the vessel reflects the growing need for specialized carriers to support the expanding electric vehicle market.
The BYD Changzhou’s arrival at Mazatlán highlights the port’s growing role in facilitating sustainable transportation solutions, strengthening trade links, and supporting the adoption of electric vehicles in Mexico.
