CHIC
CHIC is a Hangzhou-based manufacturer of intelligent self-balancing hoverboards, electric scooters, go-karts, and e-bikes, holding 600+ global patents and selling in 40+ countries via distributors, e-commerce, IP licensing, and B2B channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersHangzhou, China
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CHIC does
CHIC (浙江骑客机器人科技有限公司 / Zhejiang Chic Robot Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Hangzhou-based, privately held manufacturer of intelligent short-distance personal mobility vehicles, founded in May 2013 and best known as the pioneer of the world's first non-self-balancing intelligent hoverboard in 2014. The company's core technology stack combines embedded systems, industrial design, and mechatronics integration, anchored by proprietary vector balancing technology that was awarded the Second Prize of China's National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2016. CHIC's product portfolio spans domestic and international self-balancing hoverboard series (T2, EL-ES, PI, A-P-Z, D, P), electric scooters (FS, S), electric go-karts (GK), electric bicycles, and three-wheel drift vehicles, all built around the company's patented balancing platform and a proprietary nine-fold safety protection system.
CHIC operates a vertically integrated 1+9 industrial layout comprising its Hangzhou headquarters and nine wholly-owned subsidiaries across Jinhua, Yongkang, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Haining, supported by nearly 50 automated assembly lines and an annual production capacity of 5 million vehicles. The company monetizes through four parallel streams: (1) direct hardware sales via JD and Tmall flagship stores, a proprietary mobile app, and regional distributors across 40+ countries; (2) customized B2B group purchases for malls, theme parks, government agencies, and large enterprises; (3) IP licensing to third-party OEMs, generating over CNY 60 million annually; and (4) brand co-operation, KOL partnerships, and event sponsorships. The customer base spans individual consumers, government procurement (China Ministry of Public Security, Singapore Ministry of Defence, G20 Summit 2016), major airports (Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Guangzhou Baiyun, Paris Charles de Gaulle), entertainment venues (Hengdian World Studios, NBA events), and a celebrity endorsement roster that includes Justin Bieber.
The company's competitive position rests on 600+ global patents and 120+ trademarks, a 2017 US ITC Section 337 victory against Razor, Segway, and Ninebot, and the Chairman Unit role at the CCCME Balanced Vehicle Sub-Chamber. CHIC co-drafted the GB/T 40559-2021 national standard for lithium-ion battery safety in balance vehicles and operates under ISO9001, UL, CE, FCC, RoHS, C-TICK, and SGS certifications. After an equity restructuring in 2020 and the 2021 acquisition of six manufacturing subsidiaries, CHIC has positioned itself as a category-defining incumbent in the global self-balancing personal mobility market, with a stated five-year ambition to scale via a 1+6 balance bike industry group framework.
CHIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CHIC
- Legal name
- 浙江骑客机器人科技有限公司
- Website
- https://chic-robot.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CHIC is a Hangzhou-based manufacturer of intelligent self-balancing hoverboards, electric scooters, go-karts, and e-bikes, holding 600+ global patents and selling in 40+ countries via distributors, e-commerce, IP licensing, and B2B channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CHIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Personal Electric Vehicles
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-scooters & E-mopeds Manufacturing (IMACAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Self-Balancing Scooters & Hoverboards (CRACASAD), E-Scooters (Stand-Up) (CRACASAB), Electric Motorcycles & Electric Scooters Manufacturing (IMACAEAB), E-Bikes & Electric Bicycles (CRACASAA)
Keywords
Where CHIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hangzhou
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
CHIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of electric hoverboards, scooters, go-karts, electric bicycles, and three-wheel drift vehicles through e-commerce, distributors, and direct sales channels. Primary revenue driver with products distributed to 40+ countries.
- Intellectual Property Licensing: Licensing of CHIC's hoverboard patents and trademarks to third-party manufacturers. Annual patent licensing revenue of approximately CNY 60 million (6000余万). Partners include Yongkang Haorui, Shenzhen Magic Digital, Yongkang Meibat, Yongkang Yabu, Yongkang Xinxin Technology, and Shenzhen Zongyue Technology.
- Brand Cooperation & Sponsorship: Revenue from crossover co-branding, KOL partnerships, and major event sponsorships. Includes trademark authorization services for brand partners.
- Distributor/Agent Network: Revenue from appointed distributors and agents who resell CHIC products regionally, with exclusive territory protection and brand usage rights.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
CHIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CHIC designs, manufactures, and sells electric self-balancing two-wheel vehicles (hoverboards) across multiple series for domestic and international markets, supplemented by electric scooters, electric go-karts, electric bicycles, and three-wheel drift vehicles. The company also licenses its patented balance vehicle technology and trademarks to third-party manufacturers and offers a customized B2B group purchasing service.
Product overview
CHIC offers a comprehensive portfolio of intelligent short-distance transportation products built around proprietary self-balancing technology. The core product lineup includes multiple series of self-balancing hoverboards (平衡车) including domestic variants (T2 Iron Man-Spider-Man, EL-ES, PI, A-P-Z series) and international variants (D, P series), electric scooters (FS, S series), electric go-karts (GK series), electric bicycles, and three-wheel drift vehicles. All hoverboard products utilize CHIC's patented vector balancing technology with 9-fold safety protection system. The company also provides supporting services including a mobile app for product control, B2B customized group purchasing, and intellectual property licensing for its 600+ patents. The products are manufactured in China with ISO9001 certification and sold globally through channels including JD.com and Tmall, reaching 40+ countries and regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Self-Balancing Hoverboards (Domestic and International Series) Two-wheel electric self-balancing hoverboards delivered across multiple product series for personal mobility, recreation, and government/enterprise use, all built on CHIC's vector balancing technology with the nine-fold safety protection system and 18650 lithium-ion battery.
- Electric Scooters Foldable and urban electric scooter series (FS quick-folding series and S urban series) for personal urban mobility and short-distance commuting.
- Electric Go-Karts Electric go-karts (GK series) converted from hoverboards, providing a drift-car style recreational experience for entertainment venues and individual users.
- Electric Bicycles Electric-assisted bicycles designed for eco-friendly commuting and recreational cycling.
- Three-Wheel Drift Vehicles Three-wheeled drift vehicles providing a unique recreational riding experience for entertainment and leisure use.
- Patent and Trademark Licensing Service Patent and trademark licensing service authorizing third-party manufacturers to use CHIC's 600+ balance vehicle patents and trademarks globally; annual licensing revenue exceeds CNY 60 million.
- Customized Group Purchase Service B2B bulk procurement service offering customized pricing, dedicated account management, first-order sample support, and brand value-add for shopping malls, theme parks, large enterprises, government agencies, e-commerce platforms, and social organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Annual patent licensing revenue over CNY 60 million (6000余万)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CHIC
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CHIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CHIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and flagship.
- Shenzhen Zongyue Technology Co., Ltd (深圳市纵越科技有限公司)corePatent and trademark licensing partner. Licensed from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023. Also includes Shenzhen Yinlixin Automobile Trade Co., Ltd and Shenzhen Lichichi Energy Co., Ltd.
- Yongkang Haorui Industry & Trade Co., Ltd (永康市昊锐工贸有限公司)corePatent and trademark licensing partner. Licensed from March 20, 2022 to March 19, 2023. IP authorization from CHIC for hoverboard/balance vehicle manufacturing.
- Shenzhen Magic Digital Technology Co., Ltd (深圳市魔动数码科技有限公司)corePatent and trademark licensing partner. Licensed from March 20, 2022 to March 19, 2023. IP authorization from CHIC.
- Yongkang Meibat Industry & Trade Co., Ltd (永康市美巴特工贸)corePatent and trademark licensing partner. Licensed from March 20, 2022 to March 19, 2023.
- Yongkang Yabu Industry & Trade Co., Ltd (永康市雅步工贸)corePatent and trademark licensing partner. Licensed from March 20, 2022 to March 19, 2023.
- Yongkang Xinxin Technology Co., Ltd (永康市欣鑫科技有限公司)corePatent and trademark licensing partner. Licensed from March 20, 2022 to March 19, 2023.
- Zhejiang Qike Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd (浙江骑客供应链管理有限公司)coreInternal supply chain entity established to manage and standardize CHIC's supply chain, covering chips, controllers, chargers, motors, batteries, and battery protection boards for CHIC products.
- Shenzhen Fuyuan Electric Power Supply Co., Ltd (深圳市富源电电源有限公司)coreKey supplier partner for power systems. Their GM Wang Zhaoguang spoke at the 2021 Qike Supplier Conference, emphasizing unified goals and values for joint growth.
- DaaO Electric (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (大澳电器(江苏)有限公司)coreCore technology supplier partner for CHIC. Their GM Huang Jian shared at the 2021 Supplier Conference how CHIC's strategic support enabled their enterprise to achieve dual upgrades in quality and technology.
- Intelligent Short Transportation Alliance (智能短交通联盟)moderateCHIC founded the Intelligent Short Transportation Alliance in 2018 to start standardization of the hoverboard industry and address industry chaos. Published the 'Smartest Quality · Tianhuangping 2021 Declaration' at the 2021 Supplier Conference.
- China (Poland) Trade Fair / Hangzhou Municipal GovernmentmoderateCHIC participated in the 8th China (Poland) Trade Fair at PTAK Exhibition Center in Warsaw, Poland (May 29-31, 2019), co-organized by Hangzhou Municipal Government. New Pi03 product unveiled at this event. Featured in Polish TVN television interview.
- Unnamed Major Chinese TV Shows (江苏卫视《最强大脑》, 广东卫视《嬉戏大作战》, 浙江卫视《奔跑吧兄弟》, 深圳卫视《非常静距离》)moderateCHIC products featured in major Chinese television programs, enhancing brand visibility and reach to mass consumer audiences across different demographics.
- G20 Summit Hangzhou 2016flagshipCHIC supplied 30 units of 'Jazz' hoverboards for the G20 2016 main venue at Hangzhou International Expo Center, marking a prestigious government showcase.
- Zhejiang Qike Import & Export Co., Ltd (浙江骑客进出口有限公司)coreInternal export subsidiary managing international sales and expanding CHIC's global 'social circle', handling distribution to 40+ countries.
- Kangdi Technology Group / Hu Xiaoming (康迪科技集团/胡晓明)flagshipHu Xiaoming, Chairman of Kangdi Technology Group, serves as Special Strategic Advisor to CHIC. He gave keynote speech at 2021 Supplier Conference on 'Quality Products, Win-Win' philosophy, and emphasized building a respected enterprise through premium products.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CHIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CHIC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
CHIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CHIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
CHIC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
CHIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CHIC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CHIC
What does CHIC do?
CHIC designs, manufactures, and sells electric self-balancing two-wheel vehicles (hoverboards) across multiple series for domestic and international markets, supplemented by electric scooters, electric go-karts, electric bicycles, and three-wheel drift vehicles. The company also licenses its patented balance vehicle technology and trademarks to third-party manufacturers and offers a customized B2B group purchasing service.
Is CHIC a public or private company?
CHIC is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CHIC founded?
CHIC was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CHIC based?
CHIC is headquartered in Hangzhou, China, in the Asia region.
How does CHIC make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are intellectual Property Licensing, brand Cooperation & Sponsorship and distributor/Agent Network.
Does CHIC have an API?
No public API is recorded for CHIC.
What industry is CHIC in?
CHIC's product category is Personal Electric Vehicles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAOAB, E-scooters & E-mopeds Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRACASAD, Self-Balancing Scooters & Hoverboards. Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.