China’s electric ‘beng bengs’ create a sensation in US. Now about those delivery charges …
- The electric version of the motorised cargo tricycle, long used in China, has drawn interest in the United States after a social media account showed one in Michigan
- The vehicles, which cost as little as US$600, became a business opportunity for Chinese entrepreneurs and logistics companies in the past few months

Bad news for Americans worried about the viability of domestic auto production: the super-cheap Chinese electric vehicles that Elon Musk and Donald Trump fear are already rolling on US soil.
The good news is that these vehicles only have three wheels.
Comprising a motorcycle-like front with handlebars and a lightweight pickup rear, the “beng beng” – as the diesel vehicle is sometimes referred to in China because of its characteristically rough ride behind a loud engine that spews gas fumes – has served as a workhorse in China’s agricultural redoubts for many decades.
The newer, fully electric versions have the same moniker even though they offer smoother and quieter rides, ideal for flexible short-distance cargo transport.
Most importantly, they can now be bought in the US for as little as US$600 – before shipping fees. More about that later.
Not seen in the US before this year, these vehicles suddenly became a novel business opportunity for Chinese entrepreneurs and logistics companies just in the past few months, with small numbers starting to arrive at American container ports – one after another – in large wooden crates.