(Yicai) Sept. 29 -- A new direct shipping route operated by a roll-on/roll-off vessel connecting Shanghai with Australia and New Zealand has officially opened.

The Viking Emerald set sail from Shanghai’s Nangang Port yesterday, carrying 2,330 units of cargo, including new energy vehicles from Chinese brands, such as Chery Automobile, Great Wall Motor, and SAIC Motor’s MG and IM Motors, and construction vehicles and auto parts.

The ro-ro ship, which has a total capacity of 4,300 vehicles, is bound for ports including Melbourne, Kembla, and Brisbane in Australia. The direct route shortens transit time to within 14 days.

The new route aligns with the growing trade demand for NEVs between China and Australia. The Australian federal government has set a target for electric vehicles to account for 30 percent of new car sales by 2030, supported by a clean transport fund offering tax incentives and direct subsidies to stimulate market demand.

EV sales in Australia rose 9.3 percent to over 29,000 units in the second quarter of this year from a year earlier, according to data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Chinese brands, such as BYD and MG, have become key drivers, leveraging competitive pricing and products tailored to family needs.

New Zealand’s car sales rose 5.8 percent to 86,800 units in the first eight months of the year from a year earlier, according to data from the New Zealand Motor Industry Association. Chinese brands, such as BYD, Great Wall Motor, Chery Auto, Leapmotor, and MG, have entered the New Zealand market.

Nangang Port, a vital hub for vehicle imports and exports, has handled over 478,600 cars for foreign trade this year as of Sept. 26, surpassing last year’s total. Of them, more than 434,020 units were exported, destined for 36 countries and regions worldwide.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China exported more than 4.29 million vehicles in the first eight months of this year, up nearly 14 percent from the same period last year. NEV exports surged 87 percent to over 1.53 million units in the period.

Editor: Futura Costaglione