BAGHDAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Shifting from selling traditional gas-powered bikes to selling China-made electric motorcycles, Alaa Nader Hassan, a shop owner at the bustling al-Sadriya market in the capital Baghdad, felt glad that he had made the right choice.
"The future is for these rides because they are environmentally friendly, use advanced technologies, reduce congestion, and are economical," the 45-year-old businessman told Xinhua as he was standing among rows of stylish China-made electric motorcycles.
After decades of wars and conflicts that left deep scars on Iraq's infrastructure, including its road network, traffic congestion has become a significant problem, paralyzing life in Baghdad and many Iraqi cities, regardless of recent reconstruction efforts.
In May 2023, the Iraqi government decided to ban the import of tuk-tuks, or three-wheeled rickshaws, and fuel-powered motorcycles to regulate traffic on the streets of Iraqi cities. The government's decision left the door open to the booming market for electric motorcycles.
The China-made electric motorcycles are competitive in the market, and their high quality attracts customers looking for distinctive products, said Hassan.
Due to his business needs, Hassan has been to China two dozen times during the past ten years. He has attended the Canton Fair in Guangzhou to understand Chinese manufacturers' products better.
Hassan said he learned from his visits to China that the "secret" behind the success of Chinese products is "the concept of creativity of the Chinese manufacturers," which is based on "constant improvement, modification, and adaptation of their products."
That's why Hassan prefers to import China-made electric motorcycles despite many competitors in the market, because "the Chinese brands are gaining popularity for their high quality, low cost, and wide variety of choices," he said.
At an electric motorcycle shop in al-Sadriya market, Dhiyaa al-Iraqi, a citizen in his 30s, is learning about the product's features and is ready to buy a new one.
As a frequent visitor to the market, al-Iraqi said he thinks Chinese goods, including electric motorcycles, are gaining popularity in his country and are more competitive than European goods nowadays.
"There are always new models. When I entered this store, I found about 20 types of electric motorcycles, with different sizes, batteries, and speeds, and this variety is well-received by the people here," al-Iraqi added.
Ali Ghazwan, a worker at a repair store, told Xinhua that "the China-made electric motorcycles are outstanding, as they have few malfunctions due to the constant improvement on the products."
Moreover, "Chinese manufacturers have offered different price options, and everyone could buy the type that suits him," Ghazwan said, noting that their prices range from 200 to 700 U.S. dollars, depending on the quality, speed, and number of batteries. ■