Would you believe someone could make $10,000 a day just selling electric tricycles in America?
Recently, National Business Daily, a leading media outlet in China, reported on the surging popularity of Chinese-made electric tricycles in the United States. A bold and enterprising Chinese man born after 1995 has sparked a tricycle trend in the U.S. market, carving out a unique path of entrepreneurship that has generated millions of RMB in revenue within just one year of launching his business in California.
The story begns with the entrepreneur's keen market insight. His experience living abroad made him aware of a market gap between China and the U.S. in the realm of transportation tools. By chance, he set his sights on a familiar sight from Chinese streets, the electric tricycle, or San Beng Zi, a compact three-wheeled vehicle typically used for short-distance transport of goods and people. With its unique functional advantages, he believed it could find a new niche in the American market.
Luo Hao, a Chinese young man born after 1995.
In January, the first batch of tricycles arrived at the warehouse he rented in the U.S. Just unloading the parts took 12 hours. On the very first day of sales, three pre-negotiated clients purchased vehicles for around $3,000 each. In comparison, these vehicles retail for just over 4,000 RMB (around $600) in China.
An American customer operating a Chinese electric tricycle.
The product soon gained popularity. Local farmers and street vendors quickly became the primary customer base, attracted by the vehicle's versatility. For farmers, the tricycles provide a convenient way to move around the farm, transporting tools and goods. Their agility and large cargo space make them more practical than traditional pickup trucks. For street vendors, the low cost and ease of mobility made the trikes an ideal solution for setting up shop at different locations.
Currently, half of Luo Hao's customers are Mexican-Americans who use the tricycles for mobile vending. To manage costs and efficiency, he now imports fully assembled vehicles in batches of 20–30, allowing customers to pick them up directly from the warehouse. This model reduces operating costs and improves delivery speed.
Screenshot from a video
Within six months, Luo Hao successfully sold over 100 tricycles. The product has become his company's main profit generator due to its relatively high unit price. To promote his product, he uses both online and offline channels: posting use-case videos on local social and e-commerce platforms, and personally visiting farms and markets to demonstrate the product and build trust with customers.
He advises that hiring locals for in-person visits often leads to higher sales success.
The "San Beng Zi" also serves as a highly practical utility vehicle in the United States.
However, he's aware that challenges lie ahead. Shifting market conditions, such as changes in tariff policies, could impact costs and pricing. While tariffs haven't posed a major issue yet, uncertainties in international trade remain a concern. Moreover, growing awareness of this market potential could lead to increased competition.
To stay ahead, Luo Hao plans to enhance the product based on local feedback, improving battery life and adding comfort features. He also aims to expand into new markets such as small-scale logistics and community services.
An American customer is driving a Chinese electric tricycle
To stay ahead, Luo Hao plans to enhance the product based on local feedback, improving battery life and adding comfort features. He also aims to expand into new markets such as small-scale logistics and community services.
Conclusion
Luo Hao's journey is a playbook in modern global hustle. Chinese products don't just belong at home, they've got a place in the global market too. If you've got vision and guts like Luo, you might just build your own empire overseas. Of course, going global isn't all sunshine, it takes smarts, resilience, and some luck. But the future? It belongs to those bold enough to step out and take their shot.