COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers has inaugurated a dedicated “Thailand–Europe” shipping corridor that directly links Thailand’s burgeoning electric vehicle manufacturing base with major European consumer markets, marking a significant development in global automotive supply chains.

The new route, operated by the vessel “Yong Le Kou,” loaded hundreds of electric cars built at Changan Automobile’s Thailand facility at Laem Chabang Port on Boxing Day and is scheduled to arrive in Bristol in late January two thousand twenty-six before calling at Zeebrugge, Drammen and Bremerhaven.

This initiative reflects broader strategic shifts by Chinese automakers toward “Made in Thailand, Sold Globally,” leveraging manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia to serve high-end overseas markets while addressing logistic bottlenecks between production bases and end consumers.

The Thailand–Europe service is the third key export corridor developed by COSCO in the Thai market, complementing existing links to the Persian Gulf and Southeast and East Africa, and underscores the integration of shipping, port operations and logistics in supporting automotive industry globalisation.

By providing a comprehensive supply-chain service from factory gate to European destination, COSCO aims to enhance reliability and efficiency for vehicle exports and strengthen the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturers expanding abroad.

The development aligns with a broader trend of Chinese carmakers establishing production capacity in Thailand to boost exports, as firms such as BYD, MG and Great Wall Motor have expanded local output to serve ASEAN and global markets.

The new shipping route not only facilitates direct access to Europe’s vehicle markets but also reinforces Thailand’s role as an increasingly vital hub in the international electric vehicle industry and echoes ongoing growth in the global trade of new energy vehicles.