China's small electric vehicles are finding growth overseas

Standing in the driveway beside a newly delivered golf cart, a Dallas-based food and travel blogger shared excitement in a social media post.

"I've been driving around the neighborhood, doing interviews, four seater, the two cup holders, spacious trunk, the chargers, super easy . It's so spacious. I'll be using this every day. How cool is this? I'm obsessed with the sound system," the blogger posted. Beneath his post, the comments are a mix of "We all need a golf cart" and "This is at another level".

These golf carts are happening with Florida retirees picking up groceries in them, families in Scotland using them for school runs, and resorts in Italy replacing their shuttle vans with these Chinese-made EVs.

They have a proper name: low-speed electric vehicle. In the United States federal law defines them as four-wheeled motor vehicles with a top speed of 40 kilometers per hour and a weight under a certain limit. Depending on state and local rules in the US, many of them can legally roll down public roads.

For a lot of American families, such a vehicle becomes their second car of choice, according to The Telegraph newspaper. In retirement villages, residential communities, university campuses and small towns, it is becoming commonplace to see people driving themselves around in them.

Behind the trend and Chinese manufacturers riding the wave, transforming the humble carts into a new form of mobility.

In an online post, one user in the United States, highlighted the features of the Denago low speed golf cart, a brand from Tao Motor, based in Zhejiang province.

The vehicle comes equipped with a touchscreen displaying speed and battery information, Apple CarPlay, a sound system, LED light bars, side indicators, and a charging display that recalls "the digital experience of a Tesla". Its 5 kW motor can deliver speeds of up to 40 kmph.

"Overseas demand for eco-friendly, convenient, and low-cost transport is surging," according to Cao He, president of the China Automobile Dealers Association Investment Management, quoted by China Automotive News. "Chinese low speed electric vehicles, with their novel designs, quality, and high cost-effectiveness, create a win-win scenario."

Supported by the country's extensive electric vehicle supply chain, manufacturers have optimized these vehicles and expanded exports rapidly. Data from the China Automobile Dealers Association Car Association shows that in May, micro and small EVs accounted for 53.8 percent of total pure EV exports, up from 50.7 percent in the same period last year.

One example of this expansion is Tao Motor, whose brands include Denago and Teko. According to Frost & Sullivan, Tao Motor now holds about 10.9 percent of the global market.

The company has expanded production across China, Vietnam, and the US, creating a manufacturing network designed to serve overseas customers.

Last year, Tao Motor's golf cart business generated 1.96 billion yuan ($290.44 million) in revenue, a 141 percent increase year over year. Total revenue reached 3.94 billion yuan, with the US market accounting for more than 80 percent of sales.

The company's growth mirrors an industry trend that Chinese manufacturers are shifting from merely selling products to building ecosystems overseas. They have been developing products designed specifically for international markets, with local assembly, service networks, and features tailored to different regions.

Export models increasingly use advanced battery systems, including lithium iron phosphate technology, replacing older lead-acid batteries found in earlier versions. Some newer vehicles also feature voice controls, heated seats, improved safety systems, and other technologies once associated with larger electric vehicles.

wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn