Ordering a car the way you order a gadget online, with delivery on a massive truck and a price only marginally higher than a flagship smartphone. That’s the audacious gamble attempted by a Utah-based American YouTuber: to buy online what’s pitched as the world’s cheapest new car, manufactured in China, to see what actually shows up on his doorstep.
On the listing, everything looked appealing: a small, closed electric city car with a stylish look, promises of easy urban use, and an unbeatable price. But when the giant crate arrived and the tiny car was unloaded from the truck, the reality of this Chang Li bore little resemblance to the photos. And that’s where the story becomes intriguing for anyone dreaming of clicking on a “1,000-dollar Alibaba car.”
When the world’s cheapest new car lands in Utah
The promise on paper is enough to spark curiosity: a tiny Chinese electric car, sold for around $1,000 to $1,200 at factory, with turnkey delivery offered by middlemen. For the American YouTuber, the final bill for his Chang Li hovers around $3,800, import included, about €3,500 depending on the exchange rate. For that price, you get a minuscule electric vehicle, a closed cabin, seats, a battery, ready to roll… in theory.
When the little EV stepped off the gigantic truck, the surprise quickly gave way to laughter. “I must say it’s even smaller than the photos,” the American YouTuber HeavyDSparks notes in a video posted to YouTube and shared by Supercar Blondie. The Chang Li looks almost lost on the trailer; it seems feeble, with a hollow-sounding body, but once inside, the owner notes, “It’s a well-built vehicle, this isn’t a joke,” he assures in the clip. Even the delivery guys weigh in, one joking: “To bring that up to American standards, you’ll need a bigger engine,” one of the Chang Li’s drivers quips.
The Chang Li on the road: a notch above a golf cart
That’s the central point: as delivered, this little machine bears little resemblance to a legally approved city car. The electric motor is modest, the top speed noted around 25 km/h (roughly 15 mph), and the car quickly gives the impression of being outmatched as soon as the road opens up a bit. The YouTuber nonetheless decides to explore what this world’s cheapest new car has in its gut and undertakes a few DIY upgrades. Notably, he adds two generators on board, both to boost the range and to attempt a “0–60” style test without draining the tiny battery in a heartbeat. There’s no precise duration shared for the actual test.
After these experiments, the verdict remains modest: on the road, the Chang Li behaves like a hesitant, slow machine, with acceleration more akin to a golf cart than a real car. The little EV ends up being judged as a simple “a notch above a golf cart,” capable of carrying its driver, a passenger, and a few belongings from point A to B for less than $4,000 (roughly €3,700). But there’s a reminder: you’re buying a vehicle categorized among small, slow-electric vehicles, lacking ABS or airbags, far from the standards of a modern European city car. And for a hobbyist eager to play guinea pig, the gap between glossy photos and this tiny box-on-wheels perched on a massive truck is, in itself, the experience.
