I actually liked my time with Niu’s XQi3. Actually, my youngsters have been fairly saddened when it was time for the street-legal electrical dust bike to return to the corporate. I am fairly positive one truly cried whereas saying, “No extra wheelies!”
However regardless of the favorable evaluation I gave it, in addition to the testimonial my kids relayed, I discovered one side of Niu’s world domination plan to be suspect: the EVs have been bought by current dealerships, not on to customers.
Now, I get the reasoning behind doing it that method, as dealerships get foot site visitors and the lower-than-average promoting value of the XQi3s doubtless would appeal to potential buyer eyeballs and money. However dealerships, even powersport dealerships who’ve been barely higher by way of adapting to the EV method of the longer term, aren’t all the time one of the best place to promote EVs. Likewise, I and numerous others have by no means had what I might name a “good” dealership expertise. Does not matter if it is me shopping for a automotive, truck, or powersport factor, there’s all the time an air of “I am gonna by some means screw you” coming from the salesperson in entrance of me.
And most people agree with that sentiment, as a 2016 research discovered that 87% of customers notably dislike the dealership expertise. Which is why when Niu acknowledged it is going to begin promoting its choices direct to customers, I used to be fairly stoked about its future.
Picture by: RideApart.com
In accordance with the corporate, clients can now buy an XQi3 by the NIU Moto Gross sales Platform (NMSP) throughout the US, permitting them to “store, finance and finalize their XQi3 buy fully on-line.” From there, the NMSP does all of the tax, title, and registering (for these wishing to make their bikes street-legal), in addition to providing up financing choices, too. Niu states that “As soon as bought, the dust bikes are shipped on to clients or to a close-by vendor for ultimate meeting and supply.”
So there’s nonetheless a dealership community out there to you for upkeep and restore, you simply do not have to make use of them to buy your bike.
“The launch of the NIU Moto Gross sales Platform is a milestone not just for our firm however for the EV business as a complete,” mentioned Ben McGill, Niu’s head of North America Operations, including, “E-commerce has reworked numerous industries, and we imagine it’s time for motor automobiles to embrace this innovation. Our platform ensures that irrespective of the place you reside, you might be a part of the EV revolution—even when native retailers and sellers haven’t but tailored to this shift.”
For individuals who do wish to haggle, Niu is not giving up on its dealerships, although. The model states that its rising dealership community, which now totals over 100, together with its two flagship shops in San Diego and Miami, will “[empower] sellers to increase their buyer base whereas offering seamless entry to NIU’s cutting-edge merchandise.”
As for the bike in query, Niu just lately slashed each of the costs for the XQi3 Wild and Road by $1,000, every commanding an extremely cheap $3,999. Niu additionally did an OTA replace that apparently upgrades the bikes’ efficiency fairly drastically, although I’ve but to check it out—you have received my quantity, Niu. However total, it is excellent news from Niu and excellent news for people who detest going to the dealership.
