GLENDORA, Calif., March 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric mobility brand Hiboy is making a bigger move into physical retail. The company's compact commuter e-bike, the Hiboy C1, is now appearing in select Costco warehouse locations across the United States, and members can currently find it.
For a brand that first built its reputation online, the Costco rollout signals a broader shift toward traditional retail shelves. It also puts the Hiboy C1 in front of a much wider audience of everyday riders who may be encountering electric bikes for the first time during a routine warehouse visit.
From Online Mobility Brand to Warehouse Aisles
Costco has become an increasingly interesting place to spot e-bikes lately. Alongside everything from bulk groceries to patio furniture, the warehouse giant has quietly expanded its selection of personal mobility products.
For Hiboy, getting a product onto those warehouse floors is no small feat. Costco is known for a tightly controlled product lineup, often carrying only a handful of models in each category. That means every item must pass internal evaluations around reliability, value, and customer demand.
The appearance of the Hiboy C1 suggests the retailer sees growing interest in affordable electric transportation, particularly bikes designed for short daily trips and city commuting.
Hiboy has been steadily expanding its retail footprint in recent years. In addition to Costco, the brand's scooters and e-bikes can also be found through national retailers like Best Buy and Walmart, signaling a shift from a purely digital brand toward broader mainstream distribution.
20% OFF: A Lower Entry Price for Costco Members
For Costco shoppers, the new listing also comes with a price advantage. The Hiboy C1 is currently offered with a 20% discount, bringing the commuter-focused e-bike into a price range that's attractive for riders curious about trying electric transportation without committing to a high-end model.
That combination, warehouse availability plus a reduced price, is often how many first-time riders end up purchasing their first e-bike.
And unlike online orders, warehouse availability means some customers may be able to pick one up and ride it home the same day.
The Hiboy C1: A Compact City Commuter
Positioned as an everyday commuter bike, the Hiboy C1 focuses on practical urban riding rather than high-performance specs.
The bike features a minimalist step-through design with a streamlined one-piece frame and internally routed wiring. The integrated construction removes visible weld seams, giving the bike a cleaner appearance compared to many entry-level commuter models.
Key features include:
- Suspension: Front suspension fork for smoother city riding
- Lighting: Integrated headlight for improved visibility
- Riding Modes: Pure electric, pedal assist, and standard bicycle mode
The setup makes the Hiboy C1 suitable for short urban commutes, neighborhood rides, and quick errands, exactly the kind of trips where many riders are starting to swap cars for lighter electric mobility.
Why Warehouse Retail Still Matters for E-Bikes
While many e-bike brands grow primarily through online channels, physical retail remains an important way for new riders to discover and experience e-bikes. Seeing a bike in person, and knowing it comes from a retailer with a well-known return policy, can make customers more comfortable making the jump to electric transportation.
For Costco, adding more personal mobility products also reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior. E-bikes and electric scooters have become increasingly common in cities as commuters look for alternatives to traffic, parking costs, and rising fuel prices. Affordable, entry-level commuter bikes like the Hiboy C1 are often where that transition begins.
Looking Ahead
Hiboy's arrival in Costco stores may be just the beginning of a deeper retail partnership. As interest in electric transportation continues to grow, warehouse retailers and big-box chains are becoming an important gateway for bringing e-bikes to a broader audience.
For now, Costco members browsing the warehouse aisles may notice something new parked between the seasonal displays and sporting goods section: a compact commuter e-bike designed to make everyday trips a little easier.
And with a 20% member discount attached, the Hiboy C1 could end up being one of the more accessible entry points into electric riding yet.
About Hiboy
Hiboy is a personal mobility brand in North America known for its reliable and accessible electric scooters and e-bikes. The company focuses on developing practical short-distance transportation solutions that prioritize safety, durability, and everyday usability. .
Guided by its slogan, "Begin the Joyride," Hiboy is committed to delivering dependable and cost-effective products that make everyday transportation more enjoyable and sustainable, helping riders embrace smarter, greener mobility.
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Hiboy C1 E-Bike Lands at Costco Stores
NEW YORK, March 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- High-Trend International Group (Nasdaq: HTCO), a global ocean technology company, today announced a major strategic initiative aimed at accelerating the Company's expansion into the United States and strengthening its engagement with U.S. capital markets.
Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox with White House Legacy to Lead U.S. Strategy
The Company announced that its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Christopher Nixon Cox, a member of the family of former U.S. President Richard Nixon, will personally lead the Company's strategic initiatives and operational development in the United States.
In addition to serving as Chair of the Company's newly established U.S. Operations Independent Governance Committee, Mr. Cox will directly oversee the planning, investment execution, and operational development of the Company's U.S. initiatives. As the core leader of HTCO's U.S. strategy, he will take on key responsibilities including formulating medium-to-long-term development strategies for the U.S. market, coordinating global resource networks for optimal integration, leading the identification, evaluation and execution of strategic M&A projects, and driving critical financing initiatives to solidify the Company's capital structure.
The Board believes that combining governance leadership with direct operational involvement, leveraging Mr. Cox's strategic leadership and rich experience in resource integration and major transactions, will accelerate HTCO's entry into the U.S. and significantly strengthen the Company's positioning within the U.S. capital markets.
Establishment of the U.S. Operations Independent Governance Committee
To further strengthen the Company's governance framework and support its U.S. expansion, the Board of Directors approved the establishment of a U.S. Operations Independent Governance Committee.
The committee will oversee U.S. strategy, capital market initiatives, major investments, and the development of strategic projects in the United States, providing a robust governance guarantee for the steady advancement of HTCO's U.S. business layout and the implementation of key strategic decisions. This Committee consists of Christopher Nixon Cox as Chairman, Christopher Renn and Jinyu Chang as members.
Performance-Based Equity Incentive Aligned with Shareholder Value - Market-Based Pricing Reflects Value Recognition and Growth Confidence
The Company also announced that it has established a long-term, performance-based equity incentive plan for Mr. Cox, which is designed to align the leadership's performance with the creation of long-term shareholder value. Mr. Cox has been granted market-priced stock options to purchase an aggregate of 1,030,000 shares of the Company's class A ordinary shares, consisting of two tranches: Tranche 1 consists of options to purchase 80,000 shares with an exercise price of $8.27 per share, based on the closing price of HTCO's class A ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the grant date; Tranche 2 consists of options to purchase 950,000 shares, also with an exercise price of $8.27 per share.
Under the incentive plan, a significant portion of the stock option grants will only vest upon the achievement of key strategic milestones:
Tranche 1 (80,000 shares):
- 50,000 options vested immediately;
- the remaining 30,000 shares vest in stages during 2026–2027, subject to the recipient's continued service with the Company, vesting as follows:
- 10,000 shares vest on December 10, 2026, exercisable through December 10, 2036, which is a retention bonus and not subject to performance review;
- 10,000 shares vest on December 10, 2026, exercisable through December 10, 2036, subject to performance review;
- 10,000 shares vest on December 10, 2027, exercisable through December 10, 2037, subject to performance review.
Tranche 2 (950,000 shares):
- will become exercisable upon the achievement of core strategic milestones including:
- forming and leading the Company's U.S. projects and ongoing operations;
- raising a minimum of $50 million for the Company through one or more financing transactions;
- (the Company achieving a market capitalization of $300 million based on a 30-day VWAP on a fully diluted basis.
Under this market-based pricing and differentiated vesting structure the Chairman will stand at the same value starting point as all public shareholders, sharing both upside potential and market risks, and further aligns his personal interests closely with those of the Company and its shareholders. Shixuan He, Chief Executive Officer of HTCO, stated, "This equity incentive arrangement will solidify the linkage between leadership incentives for Mr. Cox and long-term shareholder value creation."
Strategic Growth Platform in the United States
HTCO views the U.S. as a core market for its next stage of growth and intends to expand through strategic investments, capital formation, innovative project development, and targeted strategic M&A. The Company intends to leverage Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox's strategic leadership and resource integration capabilities to foster strategic partnerships in the U.S. market, enhance operational efficiency and synergies, and accelerate scale expansion and business diversification in the shipping and technology sectors.
The Company believes that leveraging the depth and global influence of the U.S. capital markets, combined with the precise strategic deployment and strong leadership of Mr. Cox, will strongly support the formation of HTCO's long-term international growth platform and drive the sustainable development of the Company's global shipping and technology business.
About High-Trend International Group
High-Trend International Group is a global ocean transportation company.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "will," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these statements, including but not limited to those detailed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025. All information in this press release is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.
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HTCO Launches U.S. Strategic Initiative Led by Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox, Establishes Independent Governance Committee for U.S. Operations
