Nearly 40 million bicycles will be exported in 2023

From "four wheels" to "two wheels", what kind of magic will bloom?

On May 4, the 18th Beijing International Automobile Exhibition came to an end in Beijing; One day later, the 32nd China International Bicycle Exhibition opened in Shanghai. One north and one south, "four rounds" and "two rounds", echo each other.

The data speaks for itself.

China is a big producer of bicycles, accounting for about 60% of the world's annual trade. In 2023, China produced 48.83 million bicycles and exported 39.648 million.

The exhibition data is also wonderful - more than 1,400 enterprises participated in the exhibition, more than 7,300 booths were open to the public, and more than 100 overseas buyers came to discuss cooperation... The small bicycle has aroused great concern in society.

Speaking of bicycles, they have a history of development in China for more than 100 years. The bell rings, the wheel turns, and the "two wheels" span not only the distant distance, but also the changes in people's ideas.

Once upon a time, the bicycle was not only a sought-after means of transportation, but also known as the "four major pieces" with watches, sewing machines and radios, which were precious objects in the homes of ordinary people, and a "twenty-eight bars" carried the memories of The Times.

Nowadays, with the low-carbon concept deeply rooted in the people's heart and the rapid development of technological level, bicycles are not only a means of transportation, but also a combination of technology, fashion, social and other attributes, and become a part of people's green life. "Bicycle Kingdom" opens up a new track in the new era.

-- Innovation, so that the bicycle "ride" more intelligent.

The motion mode is scientific, the speed change process is crisp, and a set of hydraulic disc brake transmission for gravel road vehicles on the Suiruida booth has attracted a lot of visitors. "It changes speed with a flick of the finger, and the operation is very user-friendly." Liu Weibing, general manager of Fast Ruida Bicycle Parts (Foshan) Co., LTD., told reporters that the transmission technical barriers are high, and the team spent five years on technical research.

At the exhibition, the cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements of the bicycle industry emerged in an endless stream: the 3D printed titanium alloy frame is lighter and higher strength than the traditional welded frame; A one-piece flywheel that weighs as much as a glass of water but has the strength of an aluminum-lithium alloy; Support the connection with the mobile phone operating system, with map navigation, heart rate monitoring and other intelligent functions of the electric assisted bicycle...

"These results show the new achievements made by the bicycle industry in intelligent manufacturing and other aspects, and also reflect the trend of the industry's gradual transformation to high-end, digital and branding." China Bicycle Association vice chairman and secretary general Guo Wenyu said.

-- Green, so that the bicycle "riding" more environmentally friendly.

A small paint used to color car frames has the potential to reduce carbon emissions.

"The pure water-based single-liquid PU coating is baked at 95 degrees Celsius, lower than the current standard of 130 degrees Celsius, and can reduce carbon energy consumption by a quarter." Zhang Yu, head of the innovation demonstration exhibition, said that the new coating products use pure water instead of solvents, and can also reduce environmental pollution to a certain extent.

The concept of green environmental protection has not only created new growth points for enterprises in the production side such as raw material selection, but also reflected in the consumer side.

In 2023, the number of cycling-related videos played on the Tiktok platform increased by 94.4%, the search volume of cycling-related content increased by 137.4%, the sales of high-end sports bicycles on the market increased by more than 10%, and disc brake road bicycles have become mainstream products sought after by young people.

"More and more people are choosing to commute and exercise by bike, and green travel is becoming a common trend." China Bicycle Association industry development director Zheng Xiaoling said.

-- Open up, let more bicycles "ride" out of the country.

"Our company plans to purchase 60 containers of electric bicycles in China this year and sell them to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, three times the amount purchased last year." Aak, a buyer from Yemen, said that Chinese electric bicycles are one of the most favored products for overseas buyers.

In the first quarter of 2024, China exported 10.99 million complete bicycles, an increase of 13.7% from the fourth quarter of 2023, and exports showed an upward trend. "More and more enterprises are focusing on expanding overseas markets, and the influence of domestic bicycle brands is constantly improving." Zheng Xiaoling said.

Innovation is the driving force, green is the direction, and openness is the trend. Facing the future, the "bicycle kingdom" will "ride" to a better distance on the new track.