Some time ago, a video of a Chinese electric tricycle that was popular abroad and well-liked by foreigners went viral in China, especially the warning tone of “Pay attention when reversing”, which became the “logo” of this Chinese product. However, what everyone does not know is that this is just a microcosm of China’s electric tricycles and electric quads entering the overseas market.
According to relevant data, since June 2023, the demand for such products abroad has soared, especially the so-called “Lao Tou Le”, with monthly sales increasing by more than 185% year-on-year and the number of orders increasing by 257%. According to statistics, exports in 2023 have reached 30,000 units.
It was originally a means of transportation only for the elderly in China, but it has become a fashionable toy for many young people abroad. The author has previously introduced some videos of foreign broadcasters and players modifying and playing with the Chinese Laotoule. After purchasing the Chinese Laotoule, they do not use it purely for transportation, but modify it comprehensively to add fun to their lives.
However, there are indeed some users who buy such products for travel and short-distance shopping. I saw an uncle on foreign social media who bought a “Changli” Laotoule for a year and his life changed. He now relies on it to buy groceries, deliver food, and transport things. This shows the strong appeal of Chinese Laotoule abroad.
However, compared with the rising popularity of Laotoule abroad, the domestic policy and management situation is completely opposite. Although the market demand is strong and the public’s call is very high, facing the huge base and the annual growth of several percent of “Laotoule” management status, social security and traffic management have become urgent issues to be addressed.
For this reason, while putting aside the public’s demand for such products, many places across the country have introduced management, restrictions, and even bans on Lao Tou Le. Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Anhui and many other places have clearly or have already banned Lao Tou Le from the road.
This has caused confusion and frustration among some people who have relied on such products for travel for many years. As a result, many social management problems have arisen after the ban on Lao Tou Le, such as traffic jams in front of schools, difficulties for the elderly to take public transportation, and difficulties in seeing a doctor.
According to relevant information on the Internet, as the policies become increasingly tightened, more cities will join the ranks of banning Laotoule in the future. By then, “Laotoule” will completely lose its market in the country.
In fact, looking at the development history of China’s electric old man music for more than ten years, it is not difficult to see that the germination, development and rise of the entire industry are almost all the result of market demand. Even in this process, the state and local governments have also introduced some policies to strengthen their management, but it has not affected the rapid growth of such products in China, especially around 2016-2018, when the annual sales reached 1.2 million at its peak. In the later period, although sales declined under the influence of national policies, it still could not stop people from loving it. Even southern cities, where such products were rarely seen before, have begun to appear on a large scale.
However, in the face of this rapidly developing demand and industry, relevant management policies continue to lag behind, especially the classification and national standards for such products, which have not yet been issued. Even though the country has issued documents requiring the strengthening of management of such models and organizing the formulation of relevant national standards, the standards have not yet been issued.
Therefore, by comparing the different market phenomena at home and abroad, it is not difficult to see that it is not a problem with the product itself, but a problem of how to regulate, standardize and manage.
At present, the national standard for low-speed electric vehicles is still in the process of being formulated, and this process has lasted for two years, which shows the complexity of the groups and interests involved.
People’s travel needs cannot be suppressed, industrial development needs to be regulated, and social management needs to be strengthened. However, blindly prohibiting is not the best way to manage Laotoule. After all, if the source is not regulated or blocked, the water will still flow to all places.
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Post time: Aug-27-2024