A shortage of ships capable of transporting automobiles is creating new opportunities in the global auto industry. Hyundai Glovis, a South Korean logistics company that handles vehicle shipments for Hyundai Motor and Kia, two major South Korean automakers selling cars and SUVs in the United States, is expanding its fleet with one of the world’s largest car carriers.
The move comes as automakers compete for limited shipping space to deliver vehicles to overseas markets. The shortage has implications for American manufacturers exporting vehicles and foreign automakers supplying U.S. dealerships. With transportation capacity under pressure, Hyundai Glovis is betting that larger vessels will help it reduce shipping costs per vehicle and secure more business from global manufacturers.
The company’s ambitions extend beyond transporting Hyundai and Kia vehicles. In 2025, customers outside its parent automotive group accounted for 53% of its vehicle shipping revenue. Hyundai Glovis plans to expand its fleet to 128 car carriers by 2030, increasing annual transportation volume from 3.4 million to 5 million vehicles. The expansion reflects its strategy to capture a larger share of the global automotive shipping market.
Its latest addition, Glovis Legend, can carry 10,800 vehicles in a single voyage. The vessel was delivered on Oct. 12 by Guangzhou Shipyard International, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, China’s state owned shipbuilding conglomerate. The ship was completed approximately nine months ahead of its original delivery schedule, according to China Daily.
Glovis Legend was built for HMM, a major South Korean shipping company, which will provide the vessel for Hyundai Glovis to operate. The arrangement allows Hyundai Glovis to expand its shipping capacity through cooperation with an established maritime operator rather than relying entirely on vessels it owns.
The economics of operating larger carriers help explain the company’s strategy. A vessel capable of transporting 10,800 cars can spread voyage expenses across more vehicles than a smaller ship, potentially lowering transportation costs when sufficient cargo is available. That advantage becomes especially important when shipping companies compete for contracts from major automakers.
The ship measures approximately 755 feet long and 131 feet wide, with 14 vehicle decks designed to accommodate passenger cars, electric vehicles, hydrogen powered vehicles and heavy trucks. Its maximum capacity is equivalent to a line of vehicles stretching more than 31 miles if parked bumper to bumper.
Glovis Legend also uses a dual fuel propulsion system that operates on liquefied natural gas and conventional marine fuel. Designed to meet the International Maritime Organization’s Tier III nitrogen oxide emissions standards, the vessel combines increased transportation capacity with technology intended to meet stricter environmental requirements.
The delivery follows the introduction of Glovis Leader in late April. Built by the same Chinese shipbuilder, Glovis Leader became the world’s first LNG dual fuel automotive carrier capable of transporting 10,800 vehicles.
Guangzhou Shipyard International has delivered four automotive carriers to HMM since the companies began cooperating in 2022. Glovis Legend is the second 10,800 vehicle carrier developed through the partnership, extending the relationship among the Chinese shipbuilder and the two South Korean companies.
The expansion comes as rising automobile exports, particularly from China, continue to strain global shipping capacity. Chinese automakers have increased their overseas shipments, adding to demand for specialized car carriers even as new vessels enter service. The resulting competition for shipping space has created opportunities for logistics operators capable of handling larger volumes.
Hyundai Glovis is pursuing those opportunities by expanding its transportation capacity while broadening its customer base beyond Hyundai Motor and Kia. Its strategy combines larger vessels, improved operating efficiency and the ability to accommodate different types of vehicles as automakers expand their international distribution networks.
The addition of Glovis Legend strengthens that strategy at a time when access to shipping capacity remains an important constraint on global vehicle exports. Hyundai Glovis is seeking to turn its growing fleet into a competitive advantage, securing more transportation contracts while positioning itself as a major logistics provider to automakers worldwide.
