Tuk-Tuk! Kenyan official eyes electric models after exploring Luoyang’s three-wheeler industry

In Yanshi District of Luoyang, central China’s Henan Province, three-wheelers have become a thriving industry connecting local manufacturing with global markets.

Home to 15 three-wheeler manufacturers and more than 200 parts suppliers, Yanshi accounts for approximately one-third of China’s three-wheeler production capacity. Its industrial cluster effect has delivered an industry benchmark: a three-wheeler can be assembled within 15 minutes. In 2025, the district exported 98,000 three-wheelers and 20 million spare parts, with total export volume reaching 770 million yuan.

In Kenya, three-wheeler vehicles, commonly known as “tuk-tuks”, have become an important part of everyday life. During the 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue in Luoyang, John Mahu Macharia, Director of Trade, Investment and Industrialization of Nakuru County, Kenya, shared how three-wheelers have transformed local transportation and created new economic opportunities.

As Yanshi accelerates its transition from petrol to electric, it opens new opportunities for cooperation abroad. Macharia also expressed interest in bringing electric tuk-tuks to Kenya, where most currently run on petrol. With growing demand for affordable and sustainable mobility, Luoyang’s three-wheeler industry is looking to bring more innovative solutions to markets around the world.