Fact-Check: Was the Electric Scooter used by Police in the Video imported from China? Here’s the Truth

A video showing some cops riding self-balancing electric scooters is making the rounds on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Users sharing this video have claimed that the Gujarat government has purchased self-balancing electric scooters for police, imported from China.

Sharing this video on X, one user wrote: “Promoting Make in India, the Gujarat government has purchased e-bikes from China for the police”(Translated from Hindi)

Furthermore, several other handles, such as Dravidian Insights, shared this video and made similar claims on X. The preview link can be seen here and here.

Fact-check

The DFRAC team investigated this claim and found it to be false.
We conducted a Google keyword search in relation to the claim made through the viral video and found some reports from First India, UNI and Gujarati midday, published in February this year.

The reports stated that in a novel initiative step towards enhancing law enforcement efficiency and sustainability, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative ‘Project Green’, handed over 25 self-balancing e-bikes to the Surat City and District Police. The handover ceremony was held in the presence of Hon’ble Minister of State for Home Harshbhai Sanghavi on Sunday, March 2. These self-balancing e-bikes are set to revolutionise patrolling, particularly in areas where four-wheelers face accessibility challenges, such as narrow streets, busy marketplaces and event venues. The bikes will enhance the police force’s mobility, allowing for quicker response times and enhanced crime prevention.

Investigating further, we also came across a tweet by Gujarat Minister Harsh Sanghavi, posted on February 3, 2025. The tweet carried a video showing Sanghavi riding a self-balancing electric scooter and read: “empowering safety with innovation! NewAgePolicing 25 new self-balancing e-scooters added to our fleet. Grateful for AMNS contribution to our green initiatives”.

AM/NS India is a joint venture between the world’s leading steel companies, ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel. ArcelorMittal S.A. is a Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturing corporation headquartered in Luxembourg City. Nippon Steel India derives its foundation and technological supremacy from its parent company, Nippon Steel Corporation, Japan. No Chinese involvement is found in any of these companies.

Conclusion

It is clear from DFRAC’s fact-check that the viral video claiming that the Gujarat government has purchased self-balancing electric scooter for police, imported from China, is completely false. The self-balancing e bikes have been provided by AMNS India under the initiative from Project Green.

Analysis: Misleading