BYD says electric vehicles (EVs) can help address the global oil supply issues that have contributed to record fuel prices in Australia and around the world.
Company vice president Liu Xueliang was speaking at the ceremony last week marking the Melbourne arrival of the BYD Zhengzhou, a nearly 200m-long vessel owned by BYD, which operates a fleet of eight car-carrying ships.
The ship arrived with 4908 vehicles onboard, including the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual-cab ute and the electric Atto 1 hatch, Atto 2 small SUV and Sealion 7 mid-size SUV, among other models destined for Australian customers.
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"Where we're standing right now in Melbourne is more than 11,000km away from the Strait of Hormuz," Mr Liu said, referring to the key shipping route in the Middle East affected by conflict between the US and Iran.
Around 20 per cent of global oil supplies pass through the waterway, with disruptions helping push fuel prices higher around the world, including in Australia where diesel prices have been particularly affected.
"The uncertainty in the last three months around the Strait of Hormuz has impacted our customers' experience in the Australian market," Mr Liu said.
"We have seen increased demand for EVs in Australia, especially following the recent fuel crisis.
We want to bring more models and more vehicles to consumers who are waiting for EVs." Mr Liu's comments come....
