Xuzhou takes new electric tricycle models global: from cargo trikes to smart sweepers
When people's transport ceases to be just a means of getting around and turns into an entire ecosystem of solutions — from cargo trikes to self‑propelled sweepers and food trucks — it means the manufacturer is not just following demand but shaping it. Xuzhou, long known as a hub for electric tricycle production, is now proving that its engineers can impress the world not only with reliability but also with unexpected variety. New models that seemed niche yesterday are already being loaded into containers and shipped abroad.
In the first half of the year, exports of electric tricycles from Xuzhou exceeded 300 million yuan (about 44.25 million US dollars), up nearly 90 percent from a year earlier. At a production base in Fengxian County, Xuzhou, buyer Wang Daohong is refining a prototype destined for Indonesia, adjusting specifications on body size and battery range. "In our current annual plan, we intend to purchase more than 20,000 of these vehicles," said the buyer. Company executives note that the popularity of these vehicles stems from their perfect suitability for rural areas where cars cannot go. In regions such as Europe and Southeast Asia, where roads are narrow and terrain challenging, these nimble tricycles have become an ideal solution for local farmers.
Beyond traditional electric tricycles, many companies are actively expanding their product lines. At another plant in Xuzhou, various types of street sweepers await shipment abroad. The company manager said that initially the firm specialised in electric cargo tricycles, but later realised the market potential of specialised vehicles and shifted its focus to R&D and exports of customised models such as sweepers. "It can sweep, rinse and use a sprayer to suppress dust. One sweeper can replace more than a dozen workers," said He Shan, sales manager at Jiangsu Shanming Shuixiu Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Meanwhile, household tricycles, motorised rickshaws and leisure vehicles used in scenic spots and golf courses are also becoming new business directions for many traditional electric tricycle manufacturers. "Originally it was just a display screen. Now we have added some intelligent systems, and its configuration is similar to a vehicle‑to‑machine interaction system," said Zheng Wei, head of strategic operations at Jiangsu Xuzhou Zongshen Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd.
In the first half of this year, exports of electric tricycles from Xuzhou exceeded 300 million yuan, up roughly 90 percent year‑on‑year, while exports of spare parts reached around 160 million yuan, up more than 10 percent. "We mainly sell our products to more than 130 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and Central Asia. We are accelerating our entry into premium markets in Europe and the Americas, mainly traditional goods such as cargo and passenger tricycles and their spare parts, as well as customised specialised products like mobile food vans and sweepers," said Dai Hui, deputy head of Xuzhou Customs.
Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province is one of China's largest manufacturing hubs for electric tricycles. Local enterprises are leveraging the advantages of a complete supply chain and logistics infrastructure to expand into international markets. The export growth reflects not only strong demand but also the ability of Chinese manufacturers to adapt products to diverse climatic and road conditions, while constantly updating their model range. As CCTV+ reports. Export volumes are expected to continue rising in the second half, driven by product diversification and entry into new markets.
