This is a very special product segment that we handle. Most industrialized Western nations do not bother with this segment, as they have customers willing to plop down $50,000 for a new truck. This product however is different. The vehicles are small and simple, relatively inexpensive, easily up-gradable, tri-wheel, trucks.

These factories are quite interesting. In many ways.

One thing that is really interesting is that you would find a “no name Chinese brand factory” making parts for BMW, Honda, and Porsche.

I was surprised to see a BMW 650cc engine inside the factory. First I thought that it was a sample for benchmarking, but when I saw a whole line of engines, I was shocked. Soon I came to know that CV2 is the OEM second tier supplier for some of BMW’s engines. Quite cool to see a German motorcycle’s engine being manufactured in China.

In the near future, do not be surprised if you see a tag under your German bike such as – “Designed by BMW in Germany, Manufactured in China.”

Yeah. these products, and their factories are not what you would think.

Do not be confused!

This category should also not be confused with the more expensive three wheel vehicles that are commonly sold in the West (such as in America). Those vehicles are primarily recreational in nature…

Three-wheel recreational motorcycles come in four categories: all-terrain vehicles, urban scooters, weekend mid-distance sports bikes and long-distance tourers.

Types of 3 Wheel Motorcycles | USA Today

A utility grade of vehicle.

These vehicles are different.

These vehicles are functional, and not purchased for general recreation use. They are purchased as the singular most valuable item in low-income households. And are intended for business purposes of one type or the other.

These vehicles are sold throughout the emerging nations globally. These are probably the first major purchases that otherwise poor or below-middle class people can afford. They might not have air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, and full-leather interiors, but they are reliable, robust and inexpensive. We can source, design and manufacture these products, and have them shipped to you effortlessly to meet your local demands.

Some History

When China was emerging from a primarily agricultural and agrarian society into an industrialized one, the first thing that the people needed was a form of reliable motorized transportation. Every seemingly had a bicycle, and they were plentiful and everywhere.

But you know, bicycles were only so useful.

So some inventive Chinese fellows developed a three wheel bicycle (a tricycle) with a flatbed on the back. And people bought these mechanisms up by the thousands. Because, one singular tricycle could haul an entire family from one point to the other, and it can be used to carry goods and products from one place to another as well.

So they took these bicycles and modified them. They added flatbeds to the back, and started up their own singular businesses hauling things back and forth.

During the 1980’s China was awash in these vehicles. And life hummed along quite readily.

They had a hand brake in the middle frame that you would pull on to apply the brakes to the rear wheels. Some had front handle bar brakes as well, but that was in the higher-priced units. The wheels were all the same size, a common grade, and interchangeable. The flat bad in the rear has some springs to support the load on the road, and these varied from leaf-springs to available coiled springs.

The back flatbed had low walls to keep things in and a little tailgate that you could lower so to carry long things like lumber, pipes of large hauls of trash.

They are still available.

Though most of the models don’t resemble the more primitive versions that were released decades ago. They more resemble the kinds of bicycles that little old grandmothers ride to go get groceries with at the local market. They look like the kind of contraptions that the older folk use to get around in.

Sort of like this…

These bicycles have modernized. The front wheel is smaller than the rear wheels. The frame is sturdier. A self-charging LED light is in the front, and all wheels have fenders. Both the front and rear tires have hand brakes and the rear flat bed has been replaced with a lockable basket.

The factory has adopted to the times and noted that their product segment and customer base has changed.

During the 1990’s, some inventive chaps made electric and gas conversion kits for these devices. That enabled them to go further, and faster. And so you now had an entire society moving forward, head first into industrialization.

It began with rechargeable electric motors and batteries, and quickly branched out to small gasoline motors.

The motorcycle companies saw this trend, and began to make their own versions. More expensive, true, but faster, better built and larger.

By the year 2000, fully motorized tri-wheeled vehicles were everywhere. And there were the “bridge” that moved China from an agrarian nation into the modern nation that it is today.

Other nations follow

Because the entry price point for these vehicles are so low (relatively), these vehicles make it easy for the poorer nations to industrialize. The are affordable. As such they are a worthwhile investment. The purchase of one of these vehicles provides the owner many options for their own business…

• Taxi (Just decorate the back).
• Bus (Enlarge the back and add bench seats)
• Mail and package delivery
• Moving van
• Construction equipment (dump truck, cement mixer.)

And that is how the (now famous) Tuk-tuk came into being in Thailand.

And thus, all throughout China, and Thailand you can see these little motorized tri-wheel vehicles. There is some evidence that they are starting to make some headway in other markets, like Vietnam and Cambodia, but those markets are still in their infancy.

Market Considerations

This vehicle is of specialized utility. It is designed to be rugged, yet inexpensive, and is perfect for emerging economies. The ideal market segment for this vehicle would be in South East Asia, Africa, and South America.

The price points are wide and broad enough to accommodate differing target audiences.

We can provide a wide scope of varied products and various prices to the interested entrepreneur who would be desirous of introducing these products to a vibrant local domestic market.

Inexpensive non-motorized tricycle with flatbed on the rear

This category is the cheapest of the cheap. These are simply three wheeled tricycles that rely on the person to petal to go from one place to the other. While there are other kinds of tricycles more befitting for little old grandmothers, this product is perfect for a family or a person who would be able to modify the back into a taxi, a delivery truck, or a small bus.

The design of this vehicle is designed to be driven on rural and unimproved road, and this is evident with the rear mud hubcaps on the rear tires. The gear box is enclosed and front and rear hand brakes are standard.

Of course, these models are low priced, and brand new, and rely on the new owners to fit out the rest of the back. This might be as simple as adding sides, or more complex as in adding roof, seats and tarpaulin. I can confirm that in China, these petal bicycles can haul at least six people on level terrain, though the poor driver tends to get a bit tired going up hills.

Electric motorized tricycle

With the advent of the more powerful motorized versions of tricycle, this particular niche is smaller. However, there are companies that make the same kind of tricycle pickup flatbed as above, but with an electric motor. And these little things are speedy fast. And with all of these products, the costs are really rather inexpensive.

While it is quite possible to upgrade the simple petal tricycle to an electric motor version, many prefer to just buy a ready made design right off the shelf.

Inexpensive electric powered tricycle

Here we get into the realm of the motorcycle companies. The earlier two types of tricycles were made by bicycle companies. These next few examples are being manufactured by motorcycle companies, and “spin-off” factories. And as such, they tend to be more expensive (but not overly so), and more robust.

This particular model is a more substantive model than what we have been discussing previously. It is electric, and has a nice large back flat bed with side walls.

There are many factories that make these kinds of products. Here’s another model made by a different factory. When we select the products, we choose the best factory based on past performance, quality and the needs specified by the client.

Inexpensive gas powered tricycle

Electric vehicles are very handy. When you are not using them, you can charge them up over night. And since it is a charging operation, the electric line can be “dirty” with spikes and voltage drops and all the rest.

However, for a more conventional type of motorized product, there are both gasoline and diesel versions of motorized tricycles available.

Here is an entry level gasoline tri-axial “pick up” truckette.

This is smaller, and uses a smaller engine (151cc to 200cc). But, it can carry 500 Kg in the back. Which is roughly ten ladies if you want to haul about women in the back of your scoot.

Middle-range gas powered tricycle

Strangely there is little differentiation between the entry-level models and the higher priced models. They tend to be segmented by purpose and engine size. The bigger the engine, the more expensive. The addition of amenities, and the more costs that are added.

For instance, there are models with different sized wheels, or “dualy” wheels for the more rural applications, such as in this picture…

A major element in the differentiation of price points for these kinds of vehicles are the engines. Smaller engines are cheaper. Larger engines are more expensive. Some models have the more expensive water-cooling systems for durability and higher efficiency.

There are also usually a “ton load” of variations that can include such things as bench seats, instead of a motorcycle saddle seat, a windshield, or a fully enclosed cabin. For instance, the table below shows some standard variations between different models of the same SKU family…

Heavy Duty Industrial gas powered tricycle

The light and middle weight versions are just fine for city and town driving on level terrain, and hauling people and cargoes from place to place. But what about the more rural villages, and the farms where you need to haul cargo over rough and muddy terrain? Well the answer is to have products that are designed for this kind of work. These are known as “heavy duty” versions.

End notes

The world is evolving. Many formerly “third world” nations are evolving into large middle class communities, and a new evolution of society is occurring. These societies need planning, and direction. But they also need support and engagement.

How do we know?

History.

Many of these nations are exactly where China was twenty and thirty years ago. And the elements that “bootstrapped” China into a thriving and growing society are pretty much well known.

• Easy access to fresh potable water.
• Cheap and reliable communication.
• Cheap and reliable energy.
• Cheap and substantive housing.
• Cheap and reliable transportation.

In trade, we can help with these issues. By providing low cost, and reliable systems to a hungry and growing society. I argue that the time is right for these kinds of inexpensive utility vehicles in emerging nations.