Sidecar motorcycles-colloquially known in China as "Kuazi"-have a long and rich history dating back to the 19th century. Bicycles equipped with sidecars first attracted attention during a passenger-carrying bicycle race organized by a French news agency in 1893. The prototype of the modern sidecar motorcycle was designed in 1913 by Hugo Young, an inventor from Ohio, USA; he utilized a novel triangular sidecar structure and a movable connection to enhance steering performance and stability. In the 1930s, the German company BMW introduced the BMW R71, a sidecar motorcycle noted for its reliability, off-road capability, and ease of repair; it was widely adopted by the German military during World War II. The Soviet Union subsequently produced a copy-the Ural M72-and introduced improvements, creating a vehicle renowned for its low center of gravity, rugged durability, and ease of maintenance; this model was later introduced to China.
my country began developing three-wheeled motorcycles in the 1950s. In June 1951, the country successfully developed its first rear-wheel-drive three-wheeled motorcycle. In 1954, to meet military operational needs, the Beijing No. 6 Auto Manufacturing and Assembly Plant of the People's Liberation Army used the Soviet M72 as a blueprint, added a sidecar, and successfully produced my country's first sidecar motorcycle. In November 1961, the Beijing Motorcycle Manufacturing Plant produced a prototype of my country's first "delta-configuration" (two wheels at the rear) cargo three-wheeler-the "Great Wall" brand BM020-powered by a single-cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke engine and featuring both motorized and pedal-driven capabilities. The 1980s and 1990s marked a golden age for sidecar motorcycles, though the iconic Changjiang 750 eventually exited the market in 2009 due to factors such as outdated technology. Between 1995 and 2013, the market for sidecar motorcycles all but vanished.
At the 2014 Chongqing Motorcycle Expo, Yingang launched a "MINI + Sidecar" combination, officially entering the sidecar sector and revitalizing the market. Subsequently, numerous domestic manufacturers introduced new models, leading to an increasingly diverse product lineup . At the same time, reverse-trike motorcycles began entering the Chinese market. The Peugeot Metropolis made its debut in 2013. In 2018, the Peugeot Metropolis arrived in China as the first reverse-trike motorcycle to be officially imported. On September 17, 2022, the all-new Peugeot Metropolis was officially launched in China.