Off-road vehicles gain popularity in China

People look at a off-road vehicle displayed at a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 3, 2022. Two off-roaders from China's Great Wall Motor Company have made their overseas debut in Riyadh. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

Boosted by social platforms, the off-road vehicles (not involving motor cycles in this article) are moving from the niche population to the masses as a new lifestyle.

Off-road vehicle popularity is inextricably linked to consumption upgrades. Consumers have begun their spiritual pursuit of adventures and challenges as the national economy grows.

Various automobile clubs emerged among young people, reactivating the domestic off-road vehicle market, said Zhang Shili, secretary of China Automobile Dealer Association and China Automobile Club Branch.

Chinese automakers continue to invest in developing off-road vehicles. CITIC Securities data showed that 2021 was the first year of China's off-road vehicle market. And China's off-road vehicle penetration rate is expected to reach 3% in 2025, of which the cars priced from 150,000-400,000 yuan will show the greatest growth.

Simultaneously, social media promoted the increasing popularity of off-road vehicles. There are more and more videos related to car modification and evaluation on short video platforms. The thrilling and stirring videos of driving across steep slopes and quagmires always received more likes and re-posts.

Domestic off-road vehicles will enter a larger development space as Chinese off-road clubs, off-road activities, professional off-road competitions, and Chinese car brands flourish.

Reporting by Zhang Lin (Chaintruth); Trans-editing by Guo Yao