Chinese e-scooter brands Ninebot, Niu integrate DeepSeek AI for smarter rides
China's leading electric two-wheeler brands, Ninebot and Niu Technologies, are racing to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) models from DeepSeek in a bid to enhance their smart-riding capabilities.
Xiaomi-backed Segway-Ninebot Group, the Beijing-based electric scooter and motorcycle manufacturer, announced on Friday afternoon that it would "deeply integrate DeepSeek". This follows moves from other vehicle makers, most notably electric vehicle (EV) giants, which have scrambled to incorporate DeepSeek-powered features into their products.
"As the first company in the electric two-wheeler industry to deploy DeepSeek, this integration will significantly enhance the intelligence of Ninebot's products," the company stated in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo. "Users will experience a substantial upgrade in smart interactions, making their rides more convenient and efficient."
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Ninebot said its mobile app has already incorporated AI features, with coming functions to include "AI-powered content creation, data analytics, personalised recommendations, and intelligent services".
Companies from a variety of sectors have raced to adopt DeepSeek's open-source AI models. Photo: Reuters alt=Companies from a variety of sectors have raced to adopt DeepSeek's open-source AI models. Photo: Reuters>
Its Nasdaq-listed rival, Niu Technologies, followed suit on Friday evening, declaring itself the first e-scooter brand to have fully integrated DeepSeek's large language models (LLMs) as of February 9. LLMs are the technology underpinning generative AI services such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek's namesake chatbot.
"As the first electric two-wheeler company to deeply integrate DeepSeek's advanced AI technology, Niu will explore smart mobility applications in areas such as driver assistance, riding safety, AI-powered travel companions, voice interaction, and intelligent service recommendations," the company wrote on Weibo.
Yadea Group, the world's largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer by sales, announced on Saturday afternoon that it, too, has embedded DeepSeek's tech into its ecosystem.
The details of how these AI features will function remain unclear, but they illustrate just how widespread "DeepSeek fever" has become in China's economy. The popular low-cost, high-performance models have touched nearly every sector, with even local governments integrating the open-source technology into their systems.
Over the past two weeks, more than a dozen carmakers - including BYD, Geely, Great Wall Motor, Chery Automobile, SAIC Motor, and start-up Leapmotor - have announced plans to develop cars fitted with DeepSeek's AI features.
"Cars without DeepSeek will either lose market share or be edged out of the market," said Phate Zhang, founder of Shanghai-based EV data provider CnEVPost.
Similar to the EV industry's going-abroad trend, China's e-scooter brands have been gaining traction in overseas markets. Exports of electric two-wheelers rose 27.6 per cent year on year to US$5.82 billion in 2024, surpassing the previous peak of US$5.31 billion in 2022, according to customs data. Export volume rose 47 per cent year on year to 22.13 million units.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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