Modern railways ramp up Chinese vehicle exports

(ECNS) -- The 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center on Wednesday, boosting dialogue between China's auto industry and the world.

Amid profound changes in the global automotive landscape, Chinese automobiles are accelerating their journey onto the world stage with a spirit of innovation.

According to the latest data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, 1.42 million vehicles were exported nationwide in the first quarter of 2025, including 441,000 new energy vehicles. Among these, a total of 287,500 finished vehicles were transported via sea-rail intermodal logistics.

As one of the world's largest automobile export hubs, Shanghai Port plays a vital role in the overseas delivery of domestically produced vehicles. Railway transportation is a crucial link in the entire logistics chain. Within the jurisdiction of the railway logistics center, two ports and three major operation stations have established coordination mechanisms with ferry terminals.

Chen Zhi, general manager of the Shanghai branch of China Railway Special Cargo Logistics Co., said that the Minhang logistics base here deploys a visual monitoring system to track train locations and cargo loading status in real time. This allows workers to schedule vehicle deliveries precisely according to shipping schedules. In 2024, the Minhang logistics base transported 600,000 new energy vehicles, reducing total logistics costs by 70 million yuan (about $9.61 million).

At present, 162 modern railway freight yards, along with 417 specialized industrial rail lines, have been built in China, providing efficient and rapid transport support for accelerating the overseas delivery of Chinese vehicles.

(By Gong Weiwei)