FOTON‑COSCO automotive JV

FOTON Motor and COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers have launched a joint venture to handle vehicle exports with dedicated shipping capacity instead of relying only on third-party space. (fotonmotor.com) The new company, Guangzhou Yuanfu Automotive Supply Chain Co., Ltd., was unveiled on March 26, 2026. On the same day, a roll-on/roll-off ship carrying both companies’ logos was delivered, and 600 FOTON pickup trucks were lined up for shipment to South America aboard the vessel Kai Yuankou. (fotonmotor.com) A roll-on/roll-off, or ro-ro, ship is a vessel built so cars and trucks can be driven on and off like a floating parking garage. FOTON said the venture will cover finished vehicles and knock-down parts, the kits shipped overseas for local assembly. (prnewswire.com) FOTON is making the move as its export business gets larger. The company said it sold more than 164,500 vehicles overseas in 2025, operates in more than 140 countries, and has led China’s commercial-vehicle exports for 15 straight years. (marketscreener.com) The shipping side has been expanding too. COSCO Shipping’s specialized-carrier arm has been adding vehicle capacity, and outside partners said in 2023 that COSCO had 24 new ro-ro car carriers on order, with a planned fleet of 29 vessels. (blg-logistics.com) That matters because Chinese automakers and truck makers have been trying to lock in ocean transport after years of shipping bottlenecks, tight vessel supply, and longer export routes. Trade publication The Loadstar said FOTON’s move fits a broader push by Chinese vehicle exporters to secure capacity and control schedules more directly. (theloadstar.com) The structure also shows who holds the logistics leverage. Corporate-registry reporting cited by SeasNews said COSCO’s specialized shipping unit owns 65% of Guangzhou Yuanfu and FOTON holds 35%, with the venture aimed at supporting a target of exporting 200,000 vehicles a year on dedicated carriers. (seasnews.net) South America is an early test case for the model. FOTON’s first large shipment under the venture went there, and COSCO has been building automotive services linked to Pacific routes, including vehicle transshipment activity through Peru’s Chancay port. (fotonmotor.com) (logistics-manager.com) For FOTON, the immediate change is simple: export logistics are becoming part of the product strategy. Instead of waiting for space on someone else’s ship, the company is trying to reserve the route, the vessel, and the timing along with the truck. (prnewswire.com)