NEWS BLOG

Are you an entrepreneur considering overseas car trading as a venture? Cars can be big business. The UK in particular has a rich transport heritage, with a strong market in the USA, Europe, India, and Asia. Whether the aim is to ship classic vehicles, top-end models, or everyday transport, these trade routes are bursting with opportunities.

Transporting classic and luxury cars across oceans is fraught with risks. The thought of their pride and joy being manhandled into containers or revved on and off a ship's loading ramp is enough to raise the blood pressure of any classic car purchaser or dealership. Meanwhile, car buyers are desperate for reassurance that their expensive new purchase will arrive unscathed.

In short, the answer is no, you cannot reduce costs by transporting vehicles by air. While the cost of shipping has risen significantly due to Covid and other factors, many car transporters are considering different options, including air freight.

With Africa becoming more prosperous, the future of British exports appears healthy: yet, at present, the continent only accounts for 2.5% of the UK’s overseas trade. Nigeria and South Africa – the two largest economies in Africa – comprise nearly two-thirds of current UK-Africa trade but, with the post-Brexit landscape still evolving and shipping routes to Africa improving, the opportunities for automotive businesses is promising.

Electric vehicles (EV) are the wave of the future. Worldwide outcry over the detrimental effects on health and the environment of Nitrogen Oxide (NO2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Particulate Matter (PM), especially from diesel vehicles, has led to a new generation of hybrid and fully electric vehicles. These energy efficient, green vehicles are good news for consumers, being cheaper to run than fossil fuel driven cars, and great news for city planners struggling to control air pollution in urban centres.

We’re told that they’re driving us towards a greener future, but if, as a vehicle transportation specialist, you’re currently finding the hybrid vehicle journey a bumpy one, you’re not alone. Read on for our take on the current electric vehicle (EV) supply chain issue.  

Businesses have attempted to transport cars by shipping container ever since the shipping container was invented in 1956. Before then, and since, the dominant means of car transportation was the roll on, roll off (Ro-Ro) ferry, in which cars are driven onto the ferry, parked in place, and driven off again at each port of call.

When it comes to strategic planning, it helps to know what’s around the corner. Even during the pre-Covid days, the forecasts for the consumer vehicle market were complex and unpredictable. Back in 2019, Brexit and environmental concerns dominated the agenda of a future in which business would continue – it was assumed – more or less as usual, with a growing global market for new, eco-friendly cars. 

Recent news events have not painted a positive picture of container shipping, with prices soaring because of an unusual combination of circumstances.

There are two transportation methods to choose from when shipping vehicles around the globe using maritime freight: RORO (Roll On – Roll Off) and containerised shipping. Both methods have been in place for decades, which suggests that they work well to suit a variety of needs and situations. However, there are important differences between RORO and containerised shipping, as well as pros and cons associated with each method. Let’s take a brief look.