Behind the overseas sales of “San beng zi”: a reflection of China’s manufacturing strength

Author：DavisDate：2024-5-27

    "It's not that cars are unaffordable, but that Chinese electric vehicles are more cost-effective." Recently, a video of a group of Chinese electric tricycles going viral overseas has aroused heated discussion. In recent years, many electric tricycle companies in our country have targeted overseas markets, and sales have continued to increase, setting off a craze.

    Earlier, a Chinese Internet celebrity blogger who married in the United States posted a video saying that he purchased an electric tricycle online as a Christmas gift for his father-in-law. It is understood that the tricycle sells for about US$600 (equivalent to about 4,300 yuan), and the shipping cost exceeds the price of the vehicle. After 2 months of waiting, the domestically produced "Three Bouncers" instantly became a "big toy" for the blogger's father-in-law. The family also loved this gift that "came from afar".

    It is understood that most of the domestically produced electric tricycles exported overseas come from Wuxi Xishan Electric Vehicle Industrial Park, known as the "Hometown of Electric Vehicles in China", where there are many electric vehicle companies such as Yadea, Xinri, Tailing, and Emma. Mr. Qin from the company’s electric tricycle division told reporters that at present, overseas customers are mainly from Southeast Asian countries and sell through e-commerce platforms. In 2023, the annual export volume of electric three-wheelers will be 30,000 to 40,000 units, and the annual export volume of electric two-wheelers will be more than 100,000 units, mainly sold overseas through Qingdao Port and Guangzhou Port.Among the electric tricycle companies exporting overseas, there is also a company from Shandong. Wuzheng Group, which mainly produces agricultural vehicles and trucks, produces the 3MX electric tricycle, which is known as the luxury version of the "Three Jumpers". Zhou Wenming, the person in charge of the company, told reporters that agricultural tricycles are mainly exported to Africa, while 3MX electric tricycles are sold in developed countries such as Europe and the United States.

    It is understood that the 3MX electric tricycle produced by Wuzheng Group adopts passenger car standards. Although the price is slightly higher, the enthusiasm for buying it is difficult to resist. Zhou Wenming said, "The overall sales volume in 2023 is good. The 3MX electric tricycle product has just started. It has already received a large number of orders and the market demand is booming."

    Behind the boom of electric tricycles is the improvement of my country's soft and hard power. Chinese products are recognized by more and more countries.According to research statistics from DIResaerch, the global electric tricycle market is showing a steady expansion trend. In 2023, the global electric tricycle market sales will reach 61.86 billion yuan, and it is expected to reach 149.89 billion yuan in 2030. Asia-Pacific is the world's largest market in 2023 It holds approximately 90.06% of the market share annually, followed by the European market, accounting for approximately 5.14%.Data from cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba show that my country's electric tricycle exports reached more than 1 million units in 2020, and the global cumulative export volume reached 13.6 million units, with more than 50 exporting countries and regions. Among them, electric tricycles produced in Jiangsu Sales volume has ranked first in the world for 13 consecutive years.

    Shen Yu, secretary-general of the Xishan District Electric Vehicle Foreign Trade Association of Wuxi City, said in an interview that the average foreign trade growth rate of the Xishan District electric vehicle industry will reach 20% in 2023, and some companies may even reach 50%. There are more than 160 electric vehicle export companies in Xishan District, and brand stores have been opened in more than 140 countries and regions around the world.

    Wang Lei, a professor at the School of International Trade at Shandong University of Finance and Economics, believes that the domestically produced "three-bounce" products have attracted attention in developed countries such as the United States. First of all, it is a strong example of China's manufacturing competitiveness and reflects China's long-standing strong labor and cost advantages. and technical advantages. "Unlike many rumors now that China's demographic dividend has disappeared and its cost advantage is gone, at least in the short to medium term, China's exports still have very strong competitiveness and development momentum."

In Wang Lei's view, what is different from the past is that the way of selling electric tricycles through e-commerce platforms once again proves that China is a global leader in cross-border e-commerce development, both in terms of product manufacturing and trade channels. Achieve new growth under the new trade model.

    In recent years, developed countries such as the United States have proposed de-globalization and the reshoring of manufacturing industries. Wang Lei believes that such behavior violates normal market rules and China still has an irreplaceable position in the global industrial chain. Global cooperation has always been the main path for world economic development, and this has not changed.