A new rail-sea intermodal transport route for new energy vehicles (NEVs) has been launched from Huangshi in Hubei to Malaysia, marking the city’s first such logistics corridor for vehicle exports. The service connects inland rail transport with maritime shipping via Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang province.
The initial shipment carried auto parts from Great Wall Motor, using a semi-knocked down (SKD) model where vehicles are partially disassembled before shipment and reassembled at destination factories. This approach reduces transport volume by around 60% and lowers logistics costs by approximately 15 per cent.
The new route is expected to enhance export efficiency and support the development of Hubei as a hub for NEV exports in central China. Authorities plan to increase service frequency and expand shipments to other ASEAN markets, including Thailand and Indonesia.