The joy of commuting comes from Chinese Electric bike.
Ninebot Inc. announced in its latest first-quarter report a major achievement: with the production of its 14 millionth customized electric Bike in Changzhou, the company officially became the first Chinese enterprise in the global electric bike industry to surpass 10 million units in overseas sales, setting a new record for "Made in China" products going global.
"Our overseas sales account for nearly 80% of our total electric bike sales," said Zhang Ni, General Manager of Ninebot's Short-Transportation Marketing and Service Center. She added that their production base produces an average of one scooter every 30 seconds, with eight scooters shipped globally every minute. According to Ipsos data, Ninebot ranked first in the electric two-wheeler industry in the "2024 China Brand Global Trust Index."
As a typical example of "blooming domestically but fragrant abroad," the overseas expansion of electric bike testifies to the rise of "Made in China" technology. Professor Deng Ziliang of the National School of Development at Peking University believes that "China's sustained and rapid economic development has nurtured a group of enterprises with inherent high-tech genes and founders with an international perspective. The success of electric bike is not an isolated case; outstanding Chinese brands in fields such as chargers and drones are also performing brilliantly in high-end overseas markets."
Workers in the production workshop are working hard to produce electric bike. The Joint Statement of the China-US Geneva Economic and Trade Talks was released on the 12th. Zhang Ni believes that the tariff policy adjustment is a test of the product's ability to "go global." Facing the challenges, Ninebot, relying on the stable supply chain system of its Changzhou global manufacturing base, has transformed pressure into innovation momentum, continuously increasing its investment in emerging markets, and overcoming industry difficulties with resilient development. In the Western European market, it has maintained a market share growth rate of 10% to 15% for many consecutive years.
"Against the backdrop of international competition, we are leading the short-distance transportation market with 'intelligent' technology," revealed Ding Zhilei, Product General Manager of Ninebot's Short-Distance Transportation Business Unit. He added that the third-generation electric scooter, which debuted at the CES Consumer Electronics Show in the United States earlier this year, has attracted widespread attention with its front and rear dual shock absorption system, sensor unlocking, intelligent driving color screen, and intelligent assisted driving technologies. Despite the price increase, sales have significantly improved compared to the initial launch of the second-generation product, with some popular models even experiencing temporary stock shortages.
Smart Manufacturing Workshop
In terms of market strategy, Ninebot enhances the irreplaceability of its products through market segmentation and customized solutions. Zhang Ni explained that, in response to the preference for mid-to-high-end electric-assist bicycles and electric scooters in the European and American markets, the company has developed a differentiated strategy: in Europe, it primarily promotes electric bikes suitable for short commutes, and offers larger sizes tailored to European body types; in the United States, it launches super electric bikes with a top speed of 80 km/h, emphasizing the product's extreme sports and social attributes.
It is worth noting that Ninebot has been actively promoting its "standards going global" strategy in recent years. In 2023, the company led the drafting of the first international standard for the entire field of electric transportation equipment, including short-distance transportation and delivery robots; in 2024, it again spearheaded the development of the world's first international safety standard for short-distance transportation products. By the end of 2024, Ninebot had participated in the formulation of more than 100 technical standards at home and abroad, filling the gap in international standards in the field of short-distance transportation, promoting Chinese short-distance transportation brands from simply "product export" to "standard export", and winning more say for Chinese intelligent manufacturing in the global market.
