Chinese electric scooter maker said to plan US IPO

Niu, the Chinese company that sells so-called smart electric scooters in 27 countries, is pursuing an initial public offering that could raise about $300 million, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The start-up, founded in 2014, is working with advisers on the potential IPO, said the people, who asked not to be identified. Niu is considering listing shares in the US as soon as this year, the sources said. Preparations for the deal are at an early stage, and details could change, they said.

Niu is considering raising funds as it seeks to tap into the growing demand for battery-powered two wheelers beyond its Chinese home market. It unveiled two new scooters last month aimed at riders in Europe, where marques like Vespa and Honda are more common on urban streets. Niu sold 4,600 scooters in Europe last year and aims to at least double the number by 2020.

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“We are never ruling out the possibility of an IPO,” a spokeswoman for Niu said on Thursday. If the time came when Niu was going to pursue a listing in Hong Kong, mainland China, New York or London, “we would follow the protocol for official announcements concerning the IPO”, she said.

Chinese start-ups continue to seek stock offerings in the US even as the Hong Kong bourse has started attracting a wider range of tech and healthcare firms after relaxing its listing rules in April. Chinese electric-vehicle maker NIO filed confidentially earlier this year for a planned New York IPO, sources have said. Chinese e-commerce firm Pinduoduo is seeking as much as $1.6 billion in a US IPO this week.

Niu scooters designed for the Europe market include the M+, which has a top speed of 45 kph and will be available for €2,299 (Dh9,833), its website shows. The top-line N-GT scooter costs €3,999 and has a top speed of 70kph.

These two wheelers have a built-in internet connection that allows users to check real-time battery levels and location via a dedicated smartphone app. Both the N-GT and the M+ can be charged in three and a half hours and can travel more than 100 kilometres before needing a recharge.