In the sweltering summer heat, the Fengxian Special Vehicle Industrial Park is a scene of intense activity, with the hum of machinery blending with the rising thermal waves. Inside the workshops, welding robot arms move with precision, and vehicles flow smoothly along the painting lines. On the factory rooftops, solar panels gleam under the sun. From the humble agricultural "three-wheelers" of the past, Fengxian's vehicles are now "smartly manufactured" products reaching over 130 countries and regions globally. Over two decades, the region has charted a new development path, deeply integrating its traditional industries with emerging strengths like new energy and artificial intelligence.

The Industry's Leap from 'Manufacturing' to 'Intelligent Manufacturing'

Entering the Fengxian Electric Vehicle Industrial Park, the wave of intelligent manufacturing is immediately apparent. Inside the workshop of Xuzhou Nanpu Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd., four fully automated production lines handle testing, assembly, laser marking, and visual glue application in an integrated process. "A motor rolls off the line every 12 seconds, with machining precision controlled within 0.04 millimeters—thinner than a human hair," said General Manager Li Houjun, holding a freshly produced motor rotor. The company invests over 8 million yuan annually in R&D and holds 114 valid patents, including 31 invention patents.

At Xuzhou Keya Electromechanical Co., Ltd., Product Manager Chen Bobo, who returned to his hometown from Shanghai, is leading a team to tackle the intelligent control system for light electric cargo vehicles. He stated the company has already overcome more than ten domestic technical challenges and played a leading role in formulating the national standard for rotating motor protection. "Many people think 'three-wheelers' are low-tech, but we aim to equip them with a 'smart brain'," he said.

Meanwhile, Xuzhou Fengyi Electric Vehicle Parts Company has collaborated with Yanshan University to develop an intelligent seat with "temperature-sensitive layer technology." This product can automatically adjust the seat temperature based on the external environment, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer. "It's like installing a smart air conditioner for the seat cushion," said General Manager Wang Bin.

In April of this year, the 16th Fengxian Electric Vehicle Exhibition debuted a "Future Leadership Zone," focusing on three cutting-edge tracks: autonomous driving, smart vehicles, and core components. Twenty-seven companies showcased products like autonomous vehicles, wire-controlled chassis, and intelligent sensors. To date, Fengxian has successfully incubated over ten companies specializing in unmanned operational vehicles, such as Beiyu Intelligent and Geshi Zhixing.

To support technological innovation across the entire industrial chain, Fengxian has also established a New Energy Vehicle Industry Technology Research Institute, linking universities with upstream and downstream enterprises to drive technological breakthroughs and commercialization. An Guichen, President of the Fengxian Electric Vehicle Industry Association, noted that the local industry is transitioning from a "manufacturing highland" to a "peak of intelligent manufacturing."

The Green Transition from 'Lead-Acid Batteries' to 'Solid-State Hydrogen Storage'

If intelligence has given Fengxian's electric vehicles a "smart brain," then new energy has provided them with a "green heart." In recent years, the industrial park has promoted a "Basking in Light Initiative," encouraging companies to install photovoltaic panels on factory and warehouse roofs. Today, expansive arrays of solar panels cover the rooftops, converting clean energy directly into production power. "Through our 'self-generation for own use with surplus fed to the grid' model, we can generate 37 million kilowatt-hours annually, equivalent to saving 11,470 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30,000 tonnes," said the person in charge of the assembly workshop at Xuzhou Meibang Electric Vehicle Technology Co., Ltd.

However, a more significant transformation comes from battery technology breakthroughs. At Zhonghailong Hydrogen Electric Xiaofeiju Vehicle Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. in the special vehicle park, a delivery tricycle bearing the "Xiaofeiju" logo stands out. Unlike traditional models, its three hydrogen storage tanks occupy minimal space yet enable a range of 200 kilometers. "This significantly exceeds the actual range of current mainstream lead-acid battery vehicles," explained Technical Director Sun Jianzhong. For delivery personnel who average about 150 kilometers daily, the hydrogen-electric tricycle truly enables "one charge per day" or even "one charge every two days." Moreover, the solid-state hydrogen storage technology offers significant advantages: zero emissions, no heavy metals, and low flammability or explosion risk, perfectly aligning with urban logistics' dual needs for cleanliness and safety.

Currently, Xiaofeiju is leveraging its sightseeing vehicle product line to accelerate expansion into overseas markets, aiming to provide green and intelligent mobility solutions globally. In 2025, Fengxian successfully signed 22 projects, including new energy specialty vehicles, with planned investments totaling 12.1 billion yuan. The industry's "green content" is steadily translating into the economic "gold content" of growth.

Market Breakthrough: From 'Local Three-Wheelers' to 'Selling Globally'

A complete industrial chain forms the strongest foundation for Fengxian's electric vehicles to "conquer the world." After over twenty years of dedicated cultivation, Fengxian has become one of China's largest electric tricycle production bases, hosting over 1,400 vehicle and component manufacturers. Among the nation's top ten complete vehicle manufacturers—including Aima, Zongshen, Wuyang, Xiaodao, Lüjia, and Phoenix—eight have established operations in Fengxian.

"We can source all parts right here in Fengxian"—this is the shared sentiment of many electric vehicle company executives. Motors, frames, batteries, painting... all components can be procured within a "half-hour sourcing circle." The depth of the industrial chain directly translates into the breadth of the market.

Since 2025, Fengxian has organized more than 40 local electric vehicle companies to participate in the Canton Fair and exhibitions in over ten countries including Vietnam, Kenya, Mexico, Italy, and India. Products are now sold to more than 130 countries and regions. Statistics show that from January to May this year, Fengxian's self-operated exports of electric tricycles reached 390 million yuan, a 99.3% year-on-year increase, with cumulative total exports surpassing 3 billion yuan.

"The profit margin for a vehicle sold domestically is only 100 to 200 yuan, while the profit from exports is about four times that," said Jia Yu, the person in charge of Jiangsu Zongshen Vehicle Industry Co., Ltd., noting that the company's export growth reached 60% to 70% in 2025.

Within the Fengxian Electric Vehicle Industrial Park, it's common to see potential buyers from countries like Chile test-driving vehicles. The industry consensus—"Look to China for global electric tricycles, and look to Fengxian within China"—is evolving from a slogan into reality.

On the production lines of the Fengxian Special Vehicle Industrial Park this summer, brand-new electric vehicles continue to roll off. They are set to traverse cities and countryside, cross mountains and seas, writing the story of "Fengxian Manufacturing" across an ever-wider world.