Chinese automaker to export electric pickups to US in 2019

CHICAGO - China's electric vehicle start-up Kaiyun Motors plans to export electric pickups to the US market this year, local media reported on Monday.

Kaiyun Motors has the required approvals and plans to sell as many as 10,000 of its Pickman electric trucks in the United States this year, the Detroit News quoted the company's founder Wang Chao as saying.

The Pickman will be sold at $5,000 in the United States and 5,000 euros ($5,700) in Europe, as variants in those markets come with revisions and added features such as reinforced structures and storage space for guns.

The Pickman is much smaller in size than US-built pickups and costs as little as one-tenth of Ford's F-150. It has a driving range of 75 miles (120 kilometers) on one charge.

With a top speed of 28 miles (45 km) per hour, Pickman is suitable for farm owners, factory employees moving loads at their work sites, and commuters, Wang said.

With a capacity to carry 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) of goods, the vehicle will be enough for most pickup users, Wang said. As part of its expansion plans, the company is selecting a site for a South American factory, he said.

"Mini electric vehicles are more than enough to meet consumers' daily needs," Wang said. "There is a huge market out there around the world."