Volvo has become the first automaker in the world to export Chinese-made cars to Europe by train, taking advantage of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The S90 sedans, built at the Swedish car manufacturer's Daqing plant in North China's Heilongjiang province, arrived in Zeebrugge, Belgium on May 31. 

The cars have been transported using the recently opened China-Europe railway link, which according to Volvo, cuts transport time for the vehicles to Europe by two thirds compared to sea routes.

Using rail also reduces the environmental impact of transport, with rail creating some 66 percent less C02 emissions per ton/km.

Each train will be able to transport 120 cars, three per container harnessed at various angles.

Initially, trains will depart from Daqing once a week. The plan is to increase this frequency in line with growing volumes.

By taking advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative, the new train route ties Volvo's global manufacturing and logistics strategy to the multi-billion euro trade flows between China and Europe.

More and more business is being carried out via the Belt and Road Initiative, stepping closer to recreating a new era for the age old Silk Road trade route.

The railway link also illustrates how China is turning into a global manufacturing and export hub for high-end consumer products.

Volvo was the first Western car maker to export a China-made car to the US in 2015 with the S60 Inscription.  In November of last year, Volvo started building high-end versions of its S90 premium sedan in Daqing for global exports, and will soon be building all S90 vehicles in the factory for global export.

The first S90 sedans arrived in Zeebrugge on May 31, coinciding with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visit to Belgium.  In connection with his visit in the country, Li also met with Volvo Cars' chairman Li Shufu and CEO Håkan Samuelsson.

A China-made Volvo S90 is loaded into a container before being transported by rail to Europe. [Photo courtesy of Volvo Cars]