The "Dongfeng" Special Train of the China-Europe Railway Express (Wuhan) has departed with the initial shipment of 96 VOYAH vehicles heading directly to Europe
Issue Date：2025-03-24 Source：Xinhua net
The signing segment of the departure ceremony for the China-Europe Railway Express (Wuhan) "Dongfeng" special train. Xinhuanet photo by Li Kui
On March 14, a China-Europe Railway Express "Dongfeng" special train fully loaded with VOYAH automobiles sounded its departure horn and left the Wuhan Central Station of China Railway Intermodal. The train will travel westward through Erlianhot, heading towards Europe. As a pioneering train for exporting Hubei-manufactured vehicles, the "Dongfeng" special train aims to expand Dongfeng Motor's presence in more countries along the Belt and Road initiative. This venture supports Hubei in establishing an open gateway that will enhance connectivity and expedite the development of a new inland hub for international trade.
The China-Europe Railway Express (Wuhan) "Dongfeng" special train is a bespoke service specifically designed for Dongfeng Motor. The inaugural 'Dongfeng' special train, carrying 96 VOYAH vehicles, is set to cover 8,909 kilometers and reach Moscow in 18 days, facilitating VOYAH's expansion into the European market. Li Wei, Chief Dispatcher of Hubei Port Group, highlighted that since embarking on its international journey in 2022, VOYAH has penetrated established markets in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, along with Belt and Road Initiative countries such as Poland, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. This positions VOYAH as the sole high-end new energy brand from a central enterprise to deeply invest in the European market.
The departure ceremony of the China-Europe Railway Express (Wuhan) 'Dongfeng' special train. Xinhuanet photo by Li Kui
The departure of the special 'Dongfeng' train on the China-Europe Railway Express (Wuhan) route was organized by Hubei Port Group and the Administrative Committee of Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone. On this occasion, Hubei Port Group and China Dongfeng Motor Industry Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd. formalized a strategic partnership, aiming to enhance collaboration in comprehensive logistics and multimodal transport. They plan to explore diverse logistics models, establish a supply chain service system with international competitiveness, and support Dongfeng Motor in advancing its international growth.
In the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, "Auto Valley" vehicles, including the VOYAH Dreamer, VOYAH Courage, Mhero 917, and Lotus ELETRE, come equipped with global attributes, tirelessly traversing mountains and oceans to reach international destinations. By 2024, the export volume of automobiles from "Auto Valley" is set to surpass 120,000 units, marking a year-on-year doubling, with export values soaring to RMB 17 billion, a year-on-year increase of 47%, encompassing 52% of the province's entire automobile exports. In February, the national first-class port at Hannan Port District received official approval for temporary opening, effectively relocating the automotive "outlet to overseas markets" directly to the "doorstep." As the only port along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River equipped with RORO (Roll-On/Roll-Off) international trade capabilities, Hannan Port District will also launch shipping routes like "Jingkai Port-Japan" and "Jingkai Port-Shanghai and Taicang," accelerating "Auto Valley" vehicles enter the global market.
A representative from Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone announced a commitment to deeply implement the national "dual circulation" strategy. By leveraging the strategic edge of the Yangtze River's Golden Waterway and the Hubei Free Trade Zone, efforts will be made to fast-track the establishment of an international gateway integrated with significant waterways, enhancing international logistics routes. This initiative aims to extend the automotive industry's reach into central and western China through river-sea and rail-water intermodal transport, setting a new standard for the "inland port". The goal is to exceed exports of 200,000 vehicles this year. (By Jiang Qiuyu and Zhang Juan)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Xinhua net. The Xinhua net version shall prevail.