Built for China, headed for the world: Chinese e-bike makers ramp up overseas push

Quiet, quick, and sometimes a little too close for comfort, electric bikes are a ubiquitous sight in Shanghai. These throttle-operated vehicles, restricted or banned in many places, are integral to daily life in China's cities, powering last-mile deliveries of everything from meals to medication.

For users like Sven Weckmann, a manager at a Chinese e-commerce company, electric scooters offer a faster alternative to cycling or driving in traffic. "It's really a good way to get around, because it's much faster than biking and it's very hot here," he said. The ease of obtaining a license plate, costing around $30 and taking just a few days, further contributes to their popularity.

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It's really a good way to get around, because it's much faster than biking and it's very hot here. And it's also faster than riding a car because during rush hour, there's some traffic jams. But if on the scooter, you just go.

China's massive domestic market, with 68 million units sold in 2025, has driven manufacturers to enhance product quality, particularly battery performance. Weckmann notes his scooter needs charging only once every four days. Stricter national safety standards, implemented last year, also push for better batteries and protection against modifications, preparing Chinese e-bike makers for a significant push into the global market as domestic growth plateaus.

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They're really big (on) batteries ... and the main issue of (a) scooter is you need a good battery. If you have to charge it every day, it's not convenient.