Powered tricycles on the fast road to global success

Viral sensation

The humble vehicle is now growing in popularity overseas. A Chinese video blogger in the United States called Bobo shipped an electric tricycle from China for her father-in-law.

The tricycle became a viral hit, with locals snapping photos and marveling at it. Some even offered to buy it.

But it's not just the US. The tricycles are popular in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

The iconic "reverse, please be careful …" warning sound has echoed on foreign streets, and content featuring the tricycles has taken short-video platforms by storm.

Even Hua Chunying, vice-minister of Foreign Ministry, and Xie Feng, China's ambassador to the US, have promoted them on social media.

The tricycles' popularity has quickly boosted upstream industries. This year, industrial regions like Wuxi and Xuzhou in Jiangsu province, Linyi in Shandong province, and Luoyang in Henan have all had their economies boosted by the vehicle.

In late April, the 11th China Three-wheeled Motorcycle Industry Development Summit in Yanshi saw contracts worth 500 million yuan ($68 million) signed, a record amount, according to local government data.

"With the push from China's new energy market, foreign traders are eager to collaborate with Chinese manufacturers. Trade inquiries have increased significantly this year," said Yang Yanchang, deputy general manager of the international trade department of Luoyang Zhufeng Motor Tricycle Co. "This never happened before."

Yang credits the increasing popularity of tricycles to their cost-effectiveness. In international markets, the price of a three-wheeler ranges from $800 to $4,000.

"These affordable, high-quality, and eco-friendly vehicles are well-suited for farm work and goods transportation overseas," he said.