Ro / Ro Shipping

Special Report

Ro / ro carriers face mixed fortunes as Chinese automakers move overseas

By Keith Wallis

Efforts by Chinese automakers to move production closer to consumers outside of China will crimp booming roll-on / roll-off( ro / ro) volumes on outbound trade lanes from China, but it will also create new opportunities for carriers on short-sea routes, according to ro / ro industry executives. Manufacturers including Chery Automobile, BYD and SAIC Motor have announced plans to either build new factories or taking over existing plants in end markets in Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, India and South Africa.

“ After establishing a market presence from a sales perspective, moves are being made to establish production bases in Europe.”

China, which overtook Japan in 2023 to become the world’ s largest auto exporter, has seen vehicle volumes skyrocket 63 % year over year to 4 million units in the first five months of 2026, according to S & P Global Mobility. This is far stronger than the 39 % growth to 8.2 million vehicles China’ s automakers were forecasting for vehicle exports for the full year and reflects a renewed pivot to overseas markets after a slump in domestic demand, said Ian Fletcher, principal research analyst at S & P Global Mobility.

“ After a period of establishing a market presence from a sales perspective in Europe, moves are being made to establish production bases in Europe,” Fletcher told the Journal of Commerce, also part of S & P Global.

Europe was the third-fastest growing global market for Chinese vehicles in the first quarter, with exports climbing 57 % year over year, according to figures from China’ s General Administration of Customs( GACC).

Chinese cars and trucks accounted for 5 % of new vehicle registrations in Europe during the quarter, up from 3 % a year earlier, according to data from national automotive groups. That growth was driven primarily by gains in the UK, where China’ s share of new vehicle registrations rose to 15 % from 8 %, Italy and Poland, both of which saw the market share of Chinese autos increase to 11 % from 5 %.

Closer to consumers

The list of Chinese automakers increasing production overseas has grown by leaps and bounds in recent months.

Chery Automobile in early June signed a memorandum of understanding with Nissan in which the Japanese car maker would produce Chery vehicles at its plant in Sunderland, UK, starting in 2027. SAIC Motor, which owns the MG brand; Leapmotor, which is backed by Jeep and Chrysler owner Stellantis; and Chery are all setting up manufacturing operations in Spain.

In France, Dongfeng has agreed with Stellantis to start making vehicles at Rennes from 2028, while Austria’ s Magna Steyr is building vehicles for XPeng and the Guangzhou Automobile Group at its plant in Graz. In Hungary, BYD said

36 Journal of Commerce | July 6, 2026 www. joc. com