Yes, buyers can absolutely mix electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and traditional gasoline cars in a single shipment, especially when using container shipping.

This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of sourcing vehicles from a partner who can consolidate different models and powertrain types into one order. The key to doing this successfully depends almost entirely on your chosen shipping method.

Container Shipping: The Best Choice for Mixed Orders

When you ship vehicles in a container, you are essentially leasing a secure steel box (typically 20ft or 40ft long) for your exclusive use. This method is ideal for mixed shipments for several reasons:

  • Flexibility: You can load any combination of vehicles that physically fits inside—an electric SUV, a gasoline sedan, and a hybrid minivan can all travel together.
  • Protection: The vehicles are locked inside the container, protecting them from weather, salt water, and potential damage during transit.
  • Cost-Effective for Multiple Units: For orders of two or more vehicles, filling a 40-foot container is often more economical than shipping each car individually.

At Starvia Automotive, we help buyers decide between RoRo and Container Shipping to find the most efficient solution. For more details, check our Shipping FAQ. For a mixed-powertrain order, we almost always recommend a container to consolidate the units and simplify logistics.

RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) Shipping: Less Suited for Mixing

RoRo shipping works like a large ferry, where each vehicle is driven onto the vessel and secured on a car deck. While you can certainly ship an EV and a gasoline car on the same RoRo vessel, they are treated as separate, individual shipments rather than a single consolidated unit.

RoRo is priced per vehicle and is often a great choice for single-unit orders or oversized commercial vehicles. However, it doesn't offer the same consolidation benefits as a container for a buyer looking to import a diverse range of models at once.

How to Arrange a Mixed Shipment

Organizing a shipment with different vehicle types is straightforward:

  1. Specify Your Needs: Inform your export partner about the exact models and powertrain types you want to purchase, for example, one BYD Seal (EV) and two Chery Tiggo 8 Pro (gasoline) SUVs.
  2. Confirm Container Size: Based on your vehicle selection, Starvia Automotive will calculate the required space and recommend either a 20-foot container (fits 1-2 cars) or a 40-foot High Cube container (fits 3-4 cars).
  3. Loading and Documentation: The vehicles are professionally loaded and secured at our port facility. We then prepare a single set of export documents covering all units in the container, which simplifies customs clearance at your destination port.