Inside the BYD ship carrying 4,809 new cars and why it's scaring legacy automakers
Published on Jun 06, 2026 at 8:04 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 06, 2026 at 8:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This BYD ship has 4,809 new cars sitting onboard, and this is a daunting prospect for legacy carmakers.
The BYD Zhengzhou has reached the shores of Australia, carrying thousands of new cars onboard.
That includes the Atto 1, Atto 2, Sealion 6, Seal 6, Sealion 7, Denza B5, and Denza B8.
For EV buyers in Australia, it’s an exciting prospect – but should legacy manufacturers be worried?
This BYD ship is a big deal, both literally and figuratively
This is the biggest ever shipment of EVs to Australia, and it just docked in Melbourne.
Having been sent from Shanghai, it comes as insurance quotes for EVs in Australia have surged by 95 percent, Nine News reported.
It also comes in the aftermath of China taking over from Japan as Australia’s largest supplier of foreign vehicles.
BYD is currently right behind Toyota as the country’s second most popular car brand.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, get this – BYD is now outselling Tesla ten-to-one in Australia, which represents a 641 percent year-on-year increase.
That follows trends seen in other parts of the world from Europe to South America where the Chinese EV maker is going from strength to strength.
Onboard the ship that brought these EVs Down Under
YouTube channel CarSauce got an exclusive look inside the Zhengzhou, with hosts Matt and Jacob taking a look around.
“The hugeness of this ship is unbelievable,” Matt said.
“This thing cruises at 19 knots, so it took ten days to get here from China.”
Despite the scale, Matt suggested that the ship also represented something more symbolic.
“Demand has gone through the roof in Australia, and I think there’s going to be a time when they overtake Toyota,” he said.
“Purely because they’re able to make a huge amount of these vehicles, sell them at a great price, extremely competitive.
“There’s so long that Toyota can [stay on top], at some point, things are going to shift.”
If the comments on the video are anything to go by, the shift may be underway.
“I used to drive Toyota (Lexus actually), now I am a BYD owner (Denza actually),” one viewer wrote.
“This is actually quite incredible, China is now unmatched in R&D and manufacturing, it’s virtually impossible to compete on any measurable level,” another said.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
