COSCO Shipping Car Carriers Co., Ltd. (“COSCO Shipping Car Carriers”) and United European Car Carriers B.V. (“UECC”) have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to strengthen and expand the end-to-end automotive logistics corridor between China and Europe.
The partnership is designed to jointly address structural challenges in the China–Europe vehicle supply chain—including persistent vessel capacity constraints, suboptimal regional distribution networks, port infrastructure bottlenecks, and operational inefficiencies in cargo handling, storage, and inland connectivity. By integrating deep-sea mainline services with dedicated European feeder and short-sea networks, the collaboration aims to deliver a more resilient, efficient, sustainable, and reliable automotive logistics solution.
In a joint statement, COSCO Shipping Car Carriers noted: “The European automotive logistics landscape is undergoing profound transformation, driven by accelerating vehicle electrification, evolving trade patterns, and heightened regulatory expectations on emissions and supply chain transparency. Many European ports face systemic constraints—limited terminal capacity, aging handling equipment, insufficient warehousing and distribution infrastructure, and chronic congestion—impeding throughput and schedule reliability.”
“Compounding these challenges is the rapid expansion of Chinese vehicle exports to Europe, which has intensified demand for dedicated, high-frequency, and environmentally compliant shipping capacity. This has resulted in widespread pressure on vessel availability, berth scheduling, and fleet utilization efficiency.”
Under the agreement, the two carriers will co-develop an integrated intermodal network that leverages COSCO Shipping Car Carriers’ deep-sea capabilities and UECC’s extensive European short-sea and inland distribution expertise. The initiative supports both parties’ shared commitment to decarbonization, with priority given to deploying low-emission vessels and optimizing port call sequences to reduce idle time and fuel consumption.
COSCO Shipping Car Carriers currently operates a fleet of 31 pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). It serves six major international liner routes connecting China with Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Southeast Africa, the West Coast of South America, and Australia & New Zealand.
Of these, 24 newly built LNG-powered dual-fuel PCTCs—each with a capacity of 7,000–8,600 CEU—are progressively entering service and now constitute the backbone of its green-capable China–Europe fleet.
Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/pTM89wi6lPrPrXFORNfXzQ