Transforming traditional transportation with AI, this company launches a smart tricycle priced at around 10,000 yuan | Emerging NewThings

Text | Fu Chong

Editor | Su Jianxun

Currently, electric tricycles are still generally regarded as an "uncool" means of transportation. However, a brand called "Jixun" is adding an "AI brain" to them, making this traditional vehicle more versatile.

Recently, Jixun publicly showcased its prototype vehicle and a number of innovative technologies included in the product for the first time.

The prototype vehicle has a compact appearance and is easier to pass through narrow spaces compared to four - wheeled vehicles. Its overall driving experience is similar to that of an intelligent driving car, with adaptive cruise functions such as automatic car - following, assisted lane - changing, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind - spot monitoring.

Meanwhile, the intelligent cockpit of Jixun's electric tricycle offers multiple functions including interactive entertainment, health monitoring, and environmental control. Navigation, music, and video calls can be transferred between the inside of the vehicle and the mobile phone.

The intelligent cockpit can also automatically adjust the zero - gravity seat, temperature for users, and push personalized information such as news broadcasts and the locations of charging piles, just like a "driving assistant".

The high - sensitivity biosensor embedded in the steering wheel, combined with the AI model, can also analyze the driver's heart rate and the way of holding the steering wheel in real - time and issue safety alerts in case of abnormalities.

Regarding the question of "whether it is necessary to have so many intelligent functions", Zhang Zhansheng, the president of the Jixun brand, explained that the new capabilities all come from the essential scenarios identified in the previous user research.

Before the product R & D process started, the Jixun team spent nearly 9 months collecting user feedback in more than 20 cities across the country, including online, offline, and multi - scenario research and data collection.

Zhang Zhansheng has 16 years of work experience in the automotive industry. He has worked for leading companies such as Chery Automobile, Geely, and Volvo and has been involved in the construction and implementation of 8 automotive manufacturing plant projects.

The market opportunities brought by automotive intelligent driving technology are the reasons for his choice to enter the tricycle industry.

"The moat of Jixun's intelligent tricycles mainly includes two aspects. One is the pre - occupation of the blue - ocean market; the other is the automotive - grade intelligent connected system based on 7 innovative technologies, which is the technological foundation for the tricycle to be intelligent." Zhang Zhansheng summarized.

In terms of technology, Jixun's intelligent experience is coordinated by the in - vehicle "central brain". It collects multi - modal data inside and outside the vehicle (cameras, radars, biosensors, traffic flow, and traffic signals, etc.) to generate a unified "environmental perception + user status" model.

After combining machine learning, deep learning, and real - time decision - making, the "central brain" can dynamically coordinate the in - vehicle and out - vehicle subsystems such as assisted driving and power.

Based on the learning of historical data and user behavior, the model and algorithm will continuously optimize the intelligent services to better understand the personalized needs of the vehicle owners.

The prototype vehicle released by Jixun saves more parking space and can pass through narrow roads. Picture: Provided by the brand

In the future, Jixun aims to form a matrix of intelligent tricycles.

According to the plan, Jixun will launch at least 35 models of intelligent tricycles covering different price ranges in 2026. By optionally equipping and combining AI and intelligent driving technologies in the products, it will provide diversified products.

The 35 planned products are divided into two major categories in terms of form: full - canopy and soft - canopy. They adopt various exterior designs such as racing and retro styles to meet the aesthetic preferences of different groups of people. The intelligent cockpit can support 1 to 4 passengers depending on the vehicle configuration.

The product launch will be carried out step - by - step. Two new products scheduled to be launched in February 2026 will take the lead, mainly equipped with basic intelligent connected functions.

After that, the brand also plans to launch models equipped with automotive - grade configurations such as intelligent assisted driving and intelligent cockpits in the same year to improve the intelligent experience and safety standards of tricycles.

In addition to focusing on the daily travel field, Jixun is also expanding into commercial scenarios and plans to launch special models equipped with dump trucks to serve industries such as freight logistics.

Jixun revealed that the prices of most products will be controlled within 10,000 yuan.

The underlying logic behind Jixun's full - scale entry into the tricycle market is that the mainstream two - wheeled and four - wheeled vehicles still cannot meet all travel needs: two - wheeled vehicles are "vulnerable to bad weather and have poor carrying capacity", while four - wheeled vehicles are "expensive to buy, maintain, use, and park".

Tricycles are safer and have stronger carrying capacity than two - wheeled vehicles, and are more portable and cost - effective than four - wheeled vehicles. Jixun's intelligent tricycles use motorcycle licenses, which also avoids the problem of difficult vehicle licensing in big cities.

"Currently, the intelligent driving automotive field is quite crowded, and it is difficult to explore new opportunities. Tricycle products have developed slowly in terms of basic safety upgrades and intelligent exploration, and the R & D of high - level functions is significantly lagging behind, without forming a trend of large - scale product intelligence. There will be a huge market in this missing link." Zhang Zhansheng analyzed.

The market for electric tricycles includes both domestic and overseas markets. According to data from Zhiyan Consulting, from 2017 to 2022, the market scale of electric tricycles in China increased from 2.5724 billion yuan to 3.9827 billion yuan.

In the past, this category was mainly targeted at elderly users. With the launch of new products that pay more attention to appearance, materials, and craftsmanship, young consumers have started to enter the market.

In December 2024, a news story about a post - 2000 person earning 1 million yuan in three months by selling tricycles in the United States went viral on the Internet. Electric tricycles, which are "cost - effective, practical, and road - legal", have also attracted the attention of overseas users.

Zhang Zhansheng revealed that Jixun is also expanding into overseas markets. To meet the needs of overseas users, Jixun can provide customized services.

For example, to meet the needs of express delivery and logistics customers in the Middle East, Jixun's intelligent tricycles can be converted into fuel - powered vehicles and adopt the golden appearance preferred by local customers.

Avoiding the highly competitive four - wheeled vehicle market and making up for the functional shortcomings of two - wheeled vehicles, Jixun is using AI intelligence to find more solutions for the tricycle category.