Overview

Niu Technologies (小牛电动), commonly known as NIU, is a Chinese manufacturer of smart electric two-wheelers founded in Beijing in 2014 and listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker NIU. The company designs and develops smart electric vehicles for urban mobility, spanning electric scooters, e-mopeds, e-bikes and kick scooters. Its stated mission is "Make Life Electric," and it positions itself as a global leader in smart urban mobility, combining design and connected technology across forms of urban transport. NIU's product range covers several categories. Its core line consists of smart electric scooters and mopeds for daily commuting, while it has expanded into off-road and gravel-oriented models, and into kick scooters for last-mile travel aimed at campus, commuting and cruising use. The brand emphasizes connected features, app integration and design, and states that its vehicles are engineered for reliability — tested to perform at -10°C, run clean after 30,000 km, and last years of real-world use. According to the company, NIU serves over 4 million riders in more than 50 countries, with 40 billion kilometers ridden as live data, and has won 17 international design awards. It operates a service network of 2000+ authorized workshops and stores in the United States, and offers a 2-year warranty on the vehicle and 2 years on the battery, valid across the EU. The brand markets itself as award-winning, race-tested and rider-approved, recognized in independent tests and proven in real-world conditions. NIU sells through a mix of online channels, brand stores and authorized dealers, and has pursued international expansion particularly in Europe and the United States alongside its large home market in China. Its NASDAQ listing gives it access to international capital markets, and it competes in the fast-growing electric two-wheeler segment against both established motorcycle makers and newer EV startups.

History

Niu Technologies was founded in Beijing in 2014, at a time when Chinese cities were tightening restrictions on petrol scooters and mopeds while demand for affordable personal mobility remained strong. The company set out to build smart, connected electric two-wheelers rather than conventional low-cost e-scooters, differentiating through design, app connectivity and battery technology. Its stated mission, "Make Life Electric," framed electric mobility as a lifestyle and technology proposition rather than merely a utilitarian one. From its home base in China, NIU grew into one of the country's best-known electric two-wheeler brands, selling through a combination of online channels, branded stores and authorized dealers. The company later listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker NIU, giving it an international capital markets profile unusual among Chinese two-wheeler makers. International expansion became a central part of the brand's story. According to the company, NIU now serves over 4 million riders in more than 50 countries, with 40 billion kilometers ridden as live data, and has won 17 international design awards. It has built a service network of 2000+ authorized workshops and stores in the United States, and offers a 2-year vehicle warranty and 2-year battery warranty valid across the EU. NIU has broadened its range beyond its core commuter scooters. It has moved into off-road and gravel-oriented models for riders who "don't stop when the pavement ends," and into kick scooters positioned for last-mile travel — campus, commuting and cruising — described as compact, portable and nimble. The brand also emphasizes reliability engineering, stating that its vehicles are not finished until they perform at -10°C, run clean after 30,000 km, and last for years of real-world use, with technology framed as enabling performance rather than the other way around. Today NIU presents itself as a global leader in smart urban mobility, designing and developing smart electric vehicles that move people forward and power everyday journeys. Its positioning rests on three principles: reliability first, mobility for urban life, and design-and-technology differentiation across all forms of urban transport.

2014
Founded in Beijing, China.
Listed on NASDAQ under the ticker NIU.
Reached over 4 million riders worldwide.
Expanded to more than 50 countries and markets.
Accumulated 40 billion kilometers ridden (live data).
Won 17 international design awards.
Built a US service network of 2000+ authorized workshops and stores.

Products and positioning

High-end smart electric two-wheelers, emphasizing design and technology

Smart electric scooters
Core commuter line of connected electric two-wheelers.
Electric mopeds
Electric mopeds for urban daily travel.
Off-road / gravel models
Models for gravel, trails and fun, for riders who don't stop when the pavement ends.
Kick scooters
Last-mile kick scooters built for campus, commuting and cruising; compact, portable and nimble.
Batteries and charging
Battery systems covered by a 2-year warranty valid across the EU.

Controversies

2023
E-bike fires, power-loss complaints and after-sales disputes
During the 2023 3·15 period, media reported that a Xiaoniu NQi in Zhanjiang caught fire while charging and burned into scrap; firefighters determined it was a battery fault self-ignition, and the vehicle had been fitted by a store with a battery inconsistent with its certificate; the compensation dispute entered litigation. In 2024, another G0 caught fire while parked, and the owner reported it multiple times without result; in 2025, because the 2G central control network was withdrawn, remote functions failed, and Xiaoniu admitted fault and subsidized 50% of the replacement installation cost; in 2026, complaints of sudden power loss while riding increased, and a lawyer said a recall should be made if it is a batch defect. Brand safety and after-sales reputation damaged.
Source
2022
Multiple e-bike brands exposed on 3·15 over speed-limit decoding
Time Finance reported that a CCTV investigation found stores of brands including Luyuan and Xinri could decode e-bikes to increase speed, and Xiaoniu said it launched an internal investigation. The State Administration for Market Regulation next day reported surprise inspections of exposed companies including Xiaoniu; the vehicle count in the notice was a total for multiple companies and cannot be attributed to a single brand. Status: media investigation and regulatory inspections of some companies; no final penalties are summarized on this basis. Entities: Xinri brand-related stores, Luyuan brand-related stores, Xiaoniu-related companies. Scope: after the 2022 3·15 exposure, regulatory inspections involved Xiaoniu companies; this is not a finding that all products were noncompliant.
Source

Recent events

2021.04.07
NIU unveils ten strategic products[9]小牛电动发布十款战略产品donews.com
At its 2021 global product strategy launch event, NIU unveiled ten strategic products, including the GOVA F0, GOVA C0 and NIU electric scooters.
2020.12.07
Reported2020.12.07
Aurora Mobile and NIU Technologies form a partnership[10]极光与小牛电动达成合作finance.sina.com.cn
Aurora Mobile announced a partnership with NIU Technologies. Aurora will provide push messaging and operational data analysis capabilities to help NIU improve operational and service efficiency and personalize messaging for users.
2020.08.17
Reported2020.08.17
NIU Technologies reports second-quarter 2020 results[11]小牛电动发布2020年第二季度业绩finance.sina.com.cn
NIU Technologies released unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, reporting revenue of RMB 645 million, up 21.6% year over year.
2020.04.23
Reported2020.04.23
NIU and Far East Battery sign strategic partnership[12]小牛电动与远东电池签订战略合作协议finance.sina.com.cn
NIU and Far East Battery signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The agreement provides for Far East Battery lithium-ion cells to support NIU’s electric bicycle product range.
2020.01.07
NIU unveils TQi and RQi electric motorcycles[13]小牛电动发布TQi和RQi电动摩托车itbear.com.cn
NIU unveiled the TQi autonomous three-wheel electric motorcycle and the RQi electric motorcycle at CES 2020; both support 5G communications. The TQi was stated to be scheduled for sale in the second half of 2020.
2019.11.25
NIU announces third-quarter 2019 financial results[14]NIU 公布 2019 年第三季度财务业绩scoop.co.nz
NIU Technologies announced its third-quarter 2019 financial results, reporting revenue of RMB 654.5 million and net income of RMB 66.4 million.

Overview

History

Products and positioning

Controversies

Recent events

Sources22 sources