New Chinese-made vehicles are converging from waterways and roads onto the Outer Port Haitong Terminal in Shanghai's Waigaoqiao Port Area, before being loaded onto ocean-going vessels for shipment worldwide. Simultaneously, international trade ships call at this terminal to load and unload cargo. As the largest automobile import and export hub at the Shanghai port, Outer Port Haitong Terminal is also the largest single-vehicle ro-ro terminal in China.

'We, as professionals in the ro-ro terminal industry, deeply feel the changes brought by the growth of domestic Chinese automobiles,' said Wei Jiajian, Manager of the Dispatch Section at Shanghai Haitong International Automobile Terminal Co., Ltd. 'A decade ago, imported vehicles dominated, and crew members were predominantly foreign. Now, exported vehicles are the mainstream, and foreign crew often ask us about the price, specifications, and names of Chinese cars, which makes us feel proud.'

The accelerated global expansion of Chinese new energy vehicles relies on efficient collaboration between vehicles, ships, and ports. Chen Jia, Chief of Inspection Division Nine at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port Area Customs, stated that Customs supports this growth by implementing mechanisms like the 'Customs-Enterprise Liaison Officer' and innovating supervision models to enhance clearance efficiency.

During an afternoon visit on September 11, an inland ro-ro ship from the Yangtze River route was seen docking at the terminal. The Chinese-made new energy vehicles it carried were discharged, awaiting transshipment onto international vessels. Wei Jiajian explained that Yangtze River vessels can carry about 800-1,000 vehicles, while international ocean-going ships have a capacity of up to 7,000 parking spaces, catering to different shipping needs.

As a specialized ro-ro terminal, Waigaoqiao Haitong Terminal handles over 10,000 vehicles daily. It set a record on June 30, 2024, handling 12,065 vehicles in a single day. Haitong Company has established a coordinated operational layout across Waigaoqiao, Lingang, and Taicang — the 'two ports, three locations' strategy. In 2024, its annual throughput reached 3.63 million vehicles, ranking first globally. The terminal currently operates 15 international routes, connecting to 289 ports in 131 countries and regions.

From January to August 2025, the terminal exported 962,700 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 19.35%. Wei Jiajian observed that export markets for Chinese vehicles have expanded from initially focusing on developing countries to now including Europe, South America, the Middle East, and other regions, with the proportion of new energy vehicles continuously increasing.

To manage peak export periods and yard capacity pressure, Haitong Company built China's first automated parking garage for vehicles with 6,160 spaces in 2023. This facility enables fully automated storage and retrieval and has handled over 440,000 vehicle transactions, serving 48 automobile brands.

Regarding supervision, Waigaoqiao Customs has established a 'green channel' for seamless clearance. It also leverages a 'water-water transshipment' model, integrating ports along the Yangtze River with the Shanghai hub. In the first eight months of 2025, 339,000 vehicles were exported via this model, accounting for 35.2% of total exports, strengthening Shanghai's role as an international shipping center.