Standing in his driveway beside a newly delivered electric golf cart, a food and travel blogger based in Texas, the United States, shared his excitement in a social media post.
"I've been driving around the neighborhood, doing interviews, four seater, the two cup holders, spacious trunk, the chargers, super easy. It's so spacious. I'll be using this every day. How cool is this? I'm obsessed with the sound system," the blogger posted. Beneath his post, the comments are a mix of "We all need a golf cart" and "This is at another level".
These golf carts are also becoming popular with Florida retirees picking up groceries, families in Scotland using them for school drop-offs and pickups, and resorts in Italy replacing their shuttle buses with these Chinese-made electric vehicles.
In the US, federal law defines these low-speed electric golf carts as four-wheeled motor vehicles with a top speed of 40 kilometers per hour and a weight under a certain limit.
In addition to golf courses, retirement communities, residential complexes, university campuses and small towns are also becoming increasingly common places to see people driving themselves around in electric golf carts.
Behind the trend, Chinese manufacturers are riding the wave, transforming the humble carts into a new form of mobility.
In an online post, one user in the US highlighted the features of the Denago low-speed golf cart, a brand from Tao Motor, a company based in East China's Zhejiang province.
The vehicle comes equipped with a touchscreen displaying speed and battery information, Apple CarPlay, a sound system, LED light bars, side indicators and a charging display that recalls "the digital experience of a Tesla". Its motor can deliver speeds of up to 40 km per hour.
"Overseas demand for eco-friendly, convenient and low-cost transport is surging," said Cao He, an automobile industry consultant, as quoted by China Automotive News. "Chinese low-speed electric vehicles, with their novel designs, quality and high cost-effectiveness, create a win-win scenario."
Supported by the country's extensive EV supply chain, manufacturers have optimized these vehicles and rapidly expanded exports.
The China Automobile Dealers Association said that in May, micro and small EVs accounted for 53.8 percent of total pure EV exports, up from 50.7 percent during the same period last year.
One example of this expansion is Tao Motor, whose brands include Denago and Teko. According to Frost & Sullivan, Tao Motor now holds about 10.9 percent of the global market.
The company has expanded production across China, Vietnam and the US, creating a manufacturing network designed to serve overseas customers.
Last year, Tao Motor's golf cart business generated 1.96 billion yuan ($290.5 million) in revenue, a year-on-year surge of 141 percent.
Total revenue reached 3.94 billion yuan, with the US market accounting for over 80 percent of sales.
The company's growth mirrors an industry trend that Chinese manufacturers are shifting from merely selling products to building ecosystems overseas. They have been developing products designed specifically for offshore markets, with local assembly, service networks and features tailored to different regions.
Export-oriented models increasingly use advanced battery systems, including lithium iron phosphate technology, replacing lead-acid batteries found in older versions.
Some newer vehicles also feature voice controls, heated seats, improved safety systems and other technologies once associated with larger EVs.
