Global Car Carriers has expanded its newbuilding programme to 26 vessels, including 22 8,600-CEU PCTCs. With all orders placed at five Chinese shipyards, the Norwegian shipowner is becoming an increasingly significant player in the global vehicle-carrier market under MSC ownership.

Global Car Carriers (GCC), the Norwegian pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) owner controlled by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has further expanded its fleet renewal and growth programme, bringing its newbuilding orderbook to 26 vessels.

According to GCC's fleet information updated on 10 November, the company has added two 8,600-CEU LNG dual-fuel PCTCs at China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard, with delivery scheduled for 2031.

The latest contracts bring GCC's orders at the Weihai facility to eight 8,600-CEU vessels. The company also has two 7,000-CEU PCTCs under construction at the same shipyard.

Across its entire newbuilding programme, GCC now has 22 vessels of 8,600 CEU and four of 7,000 CEU on order. All 26 ships are being built at five Chinese shipyards.

From 20 vessels to 48: GCC's expansion under MSC

GCC's current expansion needs to be viewed in the context of MSC's acquisition of its predecessor, Gram Car Carriers.

MSC completed its acquisition through its subsidiary SAS Shipping Agencies Services in July 2024, initially securing approximately 97.81% of Gram Car Carriers' shares and voting rights. The remaining shares were subsequently acquired through a compulsory acquisition.

At the time, Gram Car Carriers had an established fleet of vehicle carriers and an existing position in the international PCTC charter market.

Following the acquisition, the company was renamed Global Car Carriers in 2026, while its fleet expansion programme accelerated.

According to GCC's latest fleet information, the company operates 22 car carriers, with capacities ranging from approximately 2,000 to 7,000 CEU. Its 26 newbuildings bring its combined operating and contracted fleet to 48 vessels.

The company's longer-term ambition has been reported as expanding its fleet to more than 60 vessels, suggesting that the current ordering programme may not represent the end of its expansion.

Five Chinese shipyards secure the entire newbuilding programme

One of the most notable aspects of GCC's expansion is the concentration of its newbuilding orders in China.

The company has distributed its 26 newbuildings across five Chinese shipbuilding locations. The latest additions further strengthen China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard's position in the programme.

The 8,600-CEU vessels form the backbone of GCC's expansion. The larger Panamax-class PCTCs are designed to carry substantial volumes of vehicles on major international trades, while the 7,000-CEU vessels provide additional capacity in a slightly smaller configuration.

The choice of Chinese shipyards also reflects the country's growing role in the construction of large vehicle carriers.

Chinese yards have secured a substantial share of recent PCTC orders, supported by established capabilities in large Ro-Ro vessel construction, competitive shipbuilding capacity and the development of alternative-fuel propulsion systems.

For the shipyards involved, GCC's programme provides a significant pipeline of work extending into the early 2030s.

LNG dual-fuel technology and the next generation of PCTCs

The newbuilding programme also highlights the continued adoption of alternative-fuel technologies in the vehicle-carrier segment.

GCC's 8,600-CEU design is based on an LNG dual-fuel configuration, with battery-hybrid technology incorporated into the design.

The vessels are intended to provide greater operational flexibility as environmental requirements become more demanding and shipping companies seek to improve the energy efficiency of their fleets.

LNG dual-fuel propulsion offers the ability to operate on LNG or conventional marine fuel, although its long-term environmental benefits depend on factors including methane emissions, fuel availability and the lifecycle emissions of the fuel supply chain.

The technology therefore represents an intermediate pathway in fleet modernisation rather than a complete solution to shipping's decarbonisation challenge.

A larger fleet, but also greater exposure to the PCTC cycle

GCC's expansion comes at a time when the global vehicle-carrier market is experiencing renewed investment.

China's rapid growth in vehicle exports, particularly electric vehicles, has increased demand for specialised transportation capacity. At the same time, the availability of suitable PCTC tonnage has remained a constraint on some trades.

Veson Nautical's Q4 2026 market outlook reported that one-year time-charter rates for standard PCTCs averaged approximately US$73,300 per day in the third quarter, up 36.9% quarter on quarter.

Chinese light-vehicle exports reached 7.1 million units in January-August 2026, an increase of 68% year on year, according to the same market assessment.

These conditions help explain why shipowners are returning to the newbuilding market.

However, the expansion of the global orderbook also creates a longer-term challenge. GCC's new vessels are scheduled for delivery over several years, meaning their commercial performance will depend on the balance between vehicle trade growth and the supply of newly delivered tonnage.

The market will also have to account for changing trade policies, the development of automakers' own shipping capabilities and competition from other vehicle-transport solutions.

For MSC, GCC's growing fleet provides a larger platform in the specialised vehicle-shipping market. For Chinese shipbuilders, the programme represents another substantial example of international shipowners placing long-term confidence in China's ability to deliver large, technologically advanced PCTCs.

The key question is no longer simply how quickly GCC can expand its fleet, but how effectively it can employ the additional capacity as the next wave of vehicle carriers enters the market.