The vehicle import and foreign trade economy is developing rapidly in Chongqing Free Trade Port Area by relying on multimodal transportation. The first whole-vehicles imported by railway-ocean combined transportation left Dubai recently and will arrive in Chongqing August 14.

This order of two Toyota Prados purchased by Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Group for 840,000 yuan ($123,107.6) was shipped from Jebal Ali port in Dubai and will arrive at Qinzhou port in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region by way of Singapore. The transportation will be switched to rail from Guangxi to Chongqing.

A container of whole-vehicles is loaded in Dubai. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

Railway-ocean combined transportation can save two-thirds of the normal travel time compared to traditional transportation methods, and accelerate the recycling speed of capital for importers.

Taking advantage of Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone and Belt and Road Initiative, Chongqing Free Trade Port Area is constructing an international multimodal transportation and logistics system to promote the interconnection between import ports and markets, especially for whole-vehicle imports.

Currently the area has 28 whole-vehicle companies focused on authorized brand cars, parallel import cars and new energy vehicles, all of which will help to create a professional market for whole-vehicle imports.

According to official data, companies in the area imported 1,411 whole-vehicles in 2017, 40 percent of which were transported by China Railway Express.

Taking the railway-ocean combined transportation as a breakthrough, Chongqing Free Trade Port Area will utilize the policies of its pilot free trade zone to create an international logistics transportation system covering railways, expressways, ocean and air.