(Yicai Global) June 6 -- Major Chinese carmaker SAIC Group is blazing a new trans-oceanic shipping route to the west coast of South America to meet ever-increasing export demand for its products there.

The pioneering ship -- the SAIC Anji 23 -- sailed crammed full on its maiden voyage today in what will become the fastest ocean route from Shanghai to the trans-Pacific continent, Shanghai Observer reported.

The roll-on/roll-off craft has a cargo capacity of 3,800 cars. it is expected to take 30-35 days to make landfall, where it will discharge its first load.

SAIC Anji Logistics, a wholly-owned SAIC Motor unit, operates the Shanghai-based carmaker's seaborne deliveries. It will deploy an even bigger ship on the auto maker's Southeast Asia ocean shipping lane, it also announced. This new vessel, the SAIC Anji Phoenix, has a freight capacity of 4,300 cars.

SAIC sent more than 15,000 cars to South America last year in a more than twofold increase from the previous year. Its shipments to Thailand and Indonesia also broke through the 10,000 mark for each destination, company data show.

Editor: Ben Armour