Chongqing Shangfeng Technology Co., Ltd.

FAQ (Frequent-Asked Question)

Q1 How Can I Choose a Proper Tricycle?

1. A tricycle/three-wheeler is a tool vehicle which is used for work on a daily basis so the quality and durability are the priorities in a client's consideration when he/she wants to buy one. Choosing an improper or low-quality product can lead to higher repair costs, increased fuel consumption, and wasted time—far outweighing the initial investment in a proper, high-quality product;
2. load capability and fuel consumption are the key factors for choosing a proper product since it is for daily use and people make living for the family with it. Every penny must count. While the recommend load capability and fuel consumption are barely mentioned on various websites;
3. Most of the tricycle/three-wheeler is made of steel so the weight of the vehicle and its components can effectively reflect the quality level of the product;
4. The suppliers of key components are essential for the consistency, durability and reliability and final performance of the product;
5. Interchangeability of Components: we need to choose a product of which most of the easily damaged components are interchangeable and available in the market. This is crucial because we don't want our tool vehicle not able to work because of lack of components and long lead-time for purchasing.

Q2 How Many Types of Tricycles Are There?

Normally we can broadly classify tricycles into the following categories:
1. Displacement of Engine: 150cc air cooling, 175cc air, 200cc (both air/water cooling), 250cc water, 300cc water, 350cc water and 1000cc wate. The higher the displacement it is, the more powerful it is and more load it can take;
2. Cabin: normal (no cabin at all for lowering the price for price sensitive and hot areas), and others with cabin (top ceiling, semi cabin, full enclosure) for a more comfortable working environment;
3. Applications: cargo tricycle (which is the most frequently seen and used everywhere), passenger tricycle, ATV (4 by 4 All-wheel drive), ambulance, fire response/agricultural, garbage and refrigerator tricycle etc;
4. Tyres: typically a tricycle has three tyres. But some of the products adopt four rear tyres which means it is actually five-tyre tricycle.

Q3 What are the Key Components Which Play an Essential Role in the Performance of the Tricycle/Three-Wheeler?

1. Engine: the only power source of the vehicle, reliable suppliers such as ZONGSHEN, LONCIN, HAOJUE (listed in no particular order) etc.;
2. Carburetor: critical for fuel consumption. Reliable suppliers such as DENI and KUNFU (listed in no particular order) etc.;
3. Frame/Chassis: it is the platform and fundation of everything. A tricycle manufacturer should have the capability of mass prducing them on its own;
4. Rear Axle & Gear in Reverse Mechanism: one of the main components which bears the main pressure of the vehicle and load. Reliable suppliers such as CHUAN YU, DONGBA (listed in no particular order) etc.;
5. Front Shock Absorber: smooth ride, bump reduction. Reliable suppliers such as LICHENG (listed in no particular order) etc.;
6. Tyre: powerful weapon for tough road. Reliable suppliers such as YUANXING, JINDUN, CHENGYUAN (listed in no particular order) etc.;
7. Battery: affects starting performance. Reliable suppliers such as LIYANG (listed in no particular order) etc.;
8. Electric components: key to the electric system and safety. Reliable suppliers such as LIHUA (listed in no particular order) etc.;

Q4 For Engine, What is the Difference Between Air-Cooling and Water-Cooling?

They refer to the ways of controlling & cooling of the engine when it works. it is usually considered that the effectiveness and efficiency of water-cooling are better than air-cooling as water circulates inside the engine to dissipate heat while it comes at a higher price. The ability to dissipate heat is critical in hot places such as Africa and Southeast Asia to maintain the normal function and performance of the engine.

Q5 For The Cargo Carriage, The Bigger the Size is, the Better it Will be?

the proper size should be carefully selected for the cargo carriage since an oversized cargo carriage may cause the front end to tilt or the engine to struggle beyond its capability (beyond the capability of the engine power/torque) due to too much cargo loaded. It will also weaken its passability if the cargo carriage is too big. Fortunately the manufacturer normally recommend the proper size when designing;

Q6 For Cargo Carriage, What is the Difference Between "Fake Texture" and "Real Texture"?

The textured surface of the floor of a cargo carriage is not for a good look. It not only increases the carriage's friction but also increases the overall weight and strength of the carriage for better durability and load-carrying capacity.
There are typically two types of textures available in the market: one is a real texture, and the other is called a "fake texture" within the industry.
"Fake textures" are created by embossing the floor from the underside directly upward, adding no extra steel, thickness, or weight to the floor. Real texture, on the other hand, requires extra steel and weight added onto the surface of the existing cargo carriage floor, although it is difficult to distinguish between the two visually. Of course, the cargo carriage with real texture will be heavier and cost more.
We can check the underside of the cargo carriage floor for indentations. If indentations exist, the texturing is considered as "fake texture."

Q7 For Rear Axle, What is the Difference Between Full-Floating and Semi-Floating for the Rear Axle?

1. the rear axle is very important for the overall performance of the vehicle;
2. The key difference between a semi-floating rear axle and a full floating rear axle lies in how the half-shafts are loaded: the half-shafts of full floating transmit torque from the engine only and do not bear the vehicle’s weight or road impact forces. Semi-floating half-shafts, on the other hand, must simultaneously bear torque, bending moments (bending forces), and a portion of the vehicle’s weight.
3. the semi-floating rear axle is with simple structure, less expensive but more prone to breakage due to metal fatigue and harder for repairing/maintenance since the whole wheel and rear axle sometimes have to be disassembled for repairing/replacement. it is suitable for client who is sensitive to the price;
4. the full-floating rear axle is with complex structure, more expensive while high reliability from breakage because it does not bear the vehicle’s weight or road impact force, it is easier to repair and maintain. It is suitable for prolonged overloading or driving on rough roads.

Q8 For Rear Axle, What is the Difference Among No Booster, Small Booster and Big Booster?

Booster is actually a mechanism (a set of gears) additionally added onto the hub of the rear axle for the purpose of increasing the torque (reducing the RPM coming from the engine) and increase the ability of the vehicle to climb a slope. There are price differences among no booster, small booster and big booster.

Q9 What are the Main Manufacturing Bases for the Tricycle/Three-Wheeler in China?

Chongqing, Henan, Hebei, Guangdong, Jiangsu province etc. Chongqing wins its reputation by its stable quality.

Q10 For Anyone Who Wants to Do This Business or Try to Be a Dealer, a Suitable Competitor Should be Carefully Selected:

The gasoline tricycle is facing a lot of competition nowadays from hand-pushed tricycles/carts, electric tricycles, diesel tricycles, and lightweight trucks. So we have to know our advantages and disadvantages and carefully select a suitable competitor to compete against.
1. The air-cooled tricycle with engine displacement below 200cc (such as 175cc and 150cc) is facing direct competition from hand-pushed tricycles, especially in places with a large supply of low-cost labor. People who are going to use this kind of product are very sensitive to price and are not going to use them for heavy-duty work. Besides, the Chongqing manufacturing system is well known for its stable quality level, not for cost-effectiveness.
2. An electric tricycle is not quite suitable for areas with inadequate power infrastructure and an unstable power supply. In the end, the battery-swapping solution turns out nothing but a gimmick. These areas are our chance.
3. A diesel tricycle engine produces more torque and is for heavier-duty work, but it is expensive. So a diesel tricycle is usually used in mining areas.
4. Lightweight trucks, especially second-hand trucks, are very popular in many African countries because they are cheap enough, easily accessible, and have good passability.
5. So the living space for gasoline tricycles is clear: it is just between diesel tricycles/lightweight trucks on one side and 200cc air-cooled gasoline tricycles on the other. We can use our 200cc or 250cc water-cooled gasoline tricycles to compete with them because:
a. our 200cc or 250cc water-cooled gasoline tricycles can do the work that air-cooled tricycles below 200cc cannot, and are even far out of reach of hand-pushed tricycles/carts.
b. 200cc or 250cc water-cooled gasoline tricycles can avoid low-price malicious competition in the low-value-added segmented market.
c. We have good/significant price advantages over diesel tricycles and lightweight trucks.
d. We have a simpler and more reliable structure than diesel tricycles or lightweight trucks, which requires less money for repairs and maintenance, and has lower fuel consumption.
e. We have a better passability than lightweight trucks.

Q11 Are We Able to Do Something About 200cc Air-Cooled (or Below) Three-Wheelers?

People in the gasoline tricycle industry often say that for small-displacement (under 200cc) gasoline three-wheelers, Hebei and Henan have a temporary cost advantage – their products are a few hundred yuan cheaper than those from Chongqing. Moreover, small-displacement gasoline three-wheelers are mostly used for short-distance and light cargo transportation, not designed for heavy loads, so they don’t require high-strength cargo boxes, rear axles, suspensions, leaf springs, or tires. Therefore, Chongqing’s gasoline three-wheelers should avoid direct competition and focus on 200cc water-cooled and above models.

Personally, I think this kind of self-limitation might cause us to miss the biggest opportunity:

a. Gasoline three-wheelers thrive globally – especially in less developed regions – because they offer far better maneuverability, power, and efficiency than human-powered tricycles, while having much lower purchase cost, fuel consumption, maintenance costs, and insurance than small trucks. Compared to large-displacement water-cooled models, under-200cc air-cooled tricycles offer better cost-effectiveness, more usage scenarios, and a larger user base – which aligns perfectly with the scale demands of manufacturing.

b. Small gasoline three-wheelers prioritize cost-effectiveness, so materials are often just adequate. But they are used far more frequently than large three-wheelers, leading to repeated wear and tear. In many regions, overloading is common, road conditions are poor, and regular maintenance is neglected. As a result, the actual service life of small three-wheelers is far shorter than their design life.

c. Thus, end consumers/users’ need for high strength, high durability, and high stability in small gasoline three-wheelers has long been ignored and overlooked.

d. So how do we design a product that is simple in structure, highly stable, strong, durable, and cheap? The answer should be: reinforce what needs to be reinforced, and eliminate what is unnecessary.

d. Cutting features and configuration from an existing product goes against human nature – at least against a designer’s nature – because a designer tends to think everything is designed for a purpose and necessary. Downgrading feels like cutting one's flesh. But what if we went the opposite way?

e. Let’s assume we start with nothing, and do addition. Now the target is to design a three-wheeler capable of carrying a 1.5-ton load. First, we need a frame as the platform – design its strength for 1.5 tons load. Then find a proper engine, rear axle, transmission, four tires/wheels, leaf springs, front suspension, braking system, and cargo box all for a 1.5-ton load. (The cargo box must be kept small, so that real-world loading is naturally limited – it won’t easily exceed the 1.5-ton design, and front-rear weight balance won’t be easily upset.) Add the fuel tank, essential wiring, and the five small electrical components. Calculate the cost. If the price differs from the target market, then simultaneously reinforce the frame, transmission, four tires/wheels, leaf springs, front suspension, braking system, and cargo box to leave design margin and a better proformance and extra durability.

f. It is our responsibility to uncover the unspoken needs of consumers. Being goal-oriented, eliminating all unnecessary components, and then feeding that back into product design – meeting customers’ requirements for price, stability, strength, and durability – is the correct way.

g. To succeed in the market, we should focus on the segment with the largest volume and widest application scenarios. Face the difficulties head-on, don’t fear competition, and fully leverage our factory’s manufacturing capabilities and economies of scale. eg. Only making one cent from selling a lighter, if we sell 100 million lighters a year, we will have a profit of 10 million yuan. Not to mention the positive impact this would have on our ability to integrate and control the upstream and downstream supply chains.

Q12 For Anyone Who Wants to Do This Business or Try to Be a Dealer, How Can I Define a Business is a Good Business?

The product has a good profit; the product has a segmented market (really helpful in solving one real problem); the market of the product keeps good potential of growth; we have to think how much minimum investment required so I can tri-start; what kind of market is suitable for three-wheeler; how much I can make for myself in one year? and I must pay close attention to my cash flow too.

Q13 For Anyone Who Wants to Do This Business or Try to Be a Dealer, Firstly, We Need to Make Some Rules for Myself:

A. I know there are three directions to survive in the market: price, quality and service. But which way I should go?
Price: I cannot win my competitors by price war since they have the scale advantage. The suppliers I find, they will find them too. Besides, there is no winner in price war in long-term. It cannot make myself different from the normal businessman;
Quality: it needs time for the products to be used and recognized by people as good quality. Besides, we need a lot of product to be sold and used by people first before the quality can be recognized. So it comes to that classic question: who comes first, egg or chicken.
Service: It seems this is the only choice left for me is to do the service, more specifically customized service which will makes me distinguished from the others.
B. Product Selection:
My friend give me two options: 1. To copy one or two models which is/are popular in the current market with lower price for the consumer/high bonus for dealers/retail seller; 2. Invest the real usage scenario and eliminate unnecessary functions/components in order to gain a cost advantage without sacrificing the quality;
I would like to goes with the first option which is less risk. But more importantly, I want to emphasize that for a new comer, what can make him survive is doing less than others.
eg., a person who does and focus on one thing gains more chance of survival than someone who does 10 things at the same time because the former one can spend ten times of resource (overwhelming power) on that specific one thing than the later one.
This is also seen card we are playing with in the game: imagine that someone who has been selling in 10 cities for a while and is not willing to close the other 9 sites and focus on that one site just for defeating me. While if he does not do so, he will have no enough resource and power to defeat me.
So I choose one or two models only in order to focus my resource and time
C. A Quick Turn-Over:
to some extent, a quick turn over is more important than the profit.
eg: If we invest 1 million with profit rate of 30% and just one turnover in a year, the profit=1million x 30%=300,000;
if we invest 1 million with profit of 5% and 12 turnovers in a year, the profit=1 million x 5%*12 times=600,0000;

As you see, he results are quite significantly different.
D. Start in City or in Town/Village:
rather than staying big city, I would like to go directly to small city/town with following advantages:
a. bigger room for price adjustment; b. less competition; c. cost less to have a big shop/showroom; d. easy for repairing/maintenance; e. closer to the real market; f. closer relationship with our clients.
E. Spare Parts and After-Service Always Goes First.
If customized service is the key for me to success/survive in long-term, spare parts and experienced technician/mechanician must go first. I need to hire well-trained technician/mechanician with high salary and bonus. Let them to cooperate with the factory for the list of quick-wear components and take the commonality‌ of components into consideration. Besides, spare parts will be my another source of profit which is in a sense, much more important than the complete units in my business plan.
F. The Clients Who Have Bought my Products are the Most Valuable Asset I have.
The clients who have bought my products are the ones who know well our product and automatically our natural free dealers to introduce our product to their relatives, friends etc.
I would like to regist the chassis number of product they bought, the name, phone number and address so our service team could visit them regularly to solve their problem and introduce the bonus policy for encouraging them to ask their relatives/friends to buy from us too. Finally, we will reach a win-win not only for my dealers but also for their clients and most importantly for myself.

Q14 What is the Best Way to Start This Business with Minimum Risk?

Step one: I treat myself as an importer first and distribute the products to my existing selling channel.
I should contact my dealers before starting as to see whether they are interested or not so I can make sure the products can be sold before they arrive at the port. I can get the payment in advance and lower the risk of overstock (a quick turn-over).
Step two: Doing above is not quite enough since the production and shipment takes a long time (four months) and there is risk of currency fluctuation and market changes. It would be best if my partner could setup a warehouse here locally and I can take whatever I need anytime. This is what a reliable partner should do. But I will not request my partner to do so at the beginning. After everything goes smoothly and both sides have made money for each other, I will have that request for my partner.
And I know my core value in this business is my selling channel and I will not let anyone touch that, even my partner.
Step three: in order to bind my partner, I will find a proper chance to convince my partner to setup a factory here with the equipment invested by him. With fixed asset investment here, it helps my partner and I to form a close relationship. Besides, a factory in Nigeria helps to reduce the duties and tax too which will bring more profit for me.

Q15 What is So Called the "Impossible Triangle"?

In marketing, there is what’s known as the “impossible triangle.” It refers to the fact that low investment, low risk, and rapid market share growth cannot coexist. We must sacrifice at least one or two to achieve others.
It all comes down to how we make decisions and how we prioritize our current objectives. If we ignore the natural laws of business and human nature and try to have them all, we’ll end up with nothing—it’s simply a waste of effort.