Border inspection officers inspect new energy vehicles at Toumen port area. [Photo/Tide News]

A total of 3,546 Geely new energy vehicles departed from the Toumen port area of Taizhou Port in Zhejiang province on Sept 21, heading for Europe and setting a record for the number of vehicles handled in a single roll-on/roll-off operation at the port.

The vehicles were loaded onto the Liberia-flagged Lake Como ro-ro vessel and are bound for European countries, including Croatia, Austria, and Hungary. Of these, 2,324 came from warehouses in Taizhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, while 1,222 were transported from Harbin, Xi'an, and elsewhere through rail-road intermodal services.

Previously, vehicles produced at Geely's Linhai Production Base had to be transported to ports in Ningbo, Shanghai, and Taicang for export, increasing logistics costs and delivery times. With the Taizhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone operating and port facilities improved, vehicles can now be exported directly from Taizhou.

Border inspection authorities in Taizhou have optimized inspection procedures through a "one vessel, one plan" approach, cutting vessels' time in port by 40 percent. Vehicles stored in bonded warehouses can receive tax rebates upon entering the zone.

The Toumen port area has completed three ro-ro operations since the start of this year, handling 1,139 vehicles. More than 4,000 new energy vehicles are expected to be exported after China's National Day holiday.