How is Chongqing’s bike trade main the world? | Statistics | Enjoyable Reality

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Recently, on the Superbike World Championship (WSBK), Chinese motorbike producer “ZXMOTO” (張雪機車) achieved a historic victory.

Established simply two years in the past and hailing from west China’s Chongqing, what was the important thing to ZXMOTO turning into world champion? What is so spectacular about Chongqing’s motorbike trade?

Chinese high-end bikes break the monopoly

The victory of motorbike staff of ZXMOTO has quickly turn into the speak of the city. This achievement has garnered such immense consideration as a result of it marks the primary time a Chinese motorbike model has reached the head of the WSBK (World Superbike Championship).

By doing so, it has not solely shattered the decades-long monopoly held by European, American, and Japanese groups however has additionally showcased the prowess of Chinese high-end motorbike manufacturing to the complete world.

Zhang Xue, the founder of ZXMOTO, is interviewed by the media at the Chongqing factory.
Following the championship victory of ZXMOTO, its founder, Zhang Xue, was interviewed by the media on the Chongqing manufacturing unit. (Image Source: Getty)

Wherein lies the success of “Made in China”?

First, let’s speak in regards to the WSBK. Its most important characteristic is that the competing autos have to be manufacturing fashions with restricted modifications, making it considered an important platform for testing the efficiency of mass-produced bikes.

In different phrases, the competition on the monitor shouldn’t be merely in regards to the rider’s ability, however a complete showdown of the motorbike’s core applied sciences and even the complete trade chain.

Although China is the world’s largest producer and vendor of bikes, its core applied sciences, comparable to high-performance engines and precision tuning methods, have lengthy been depending on different nations, making it troublesome for the event of its high-end bikes to interrupt via.

Consequently, the presence of Chinese racing motorbike manufacturers in top-tier worldwide competitions has been nearly non-existent.

 A French rider, driving a racing motorcycle (front) from the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO, achieves two consecutive victories.
Since its inception in 1988, the World Superbike Championship has been dominated by groups from Europe, America, and Japan, till the top of March this yr, when a French rider, driving a racing motorbike (entrance) from the Chinese motorbike producer ZXMOTO, secured two consecutive victories. (Image Source: Getty)

So-called “high-end motorcycles” sometimes characteristic highly effective efficiency, luxurious configurations, beautiful craftsmanship, and a singular model tradition, providing each an final driving expertise and collectible worth, with a worth level far exceeding that of bizarre commuter bikes.

This market, too, was as soon as dominated by European, American, and Japanese manufacturers.

This victory of ZXMOTO signifies a serious breakthrough for China’s high-end motorbikes.

The racing bike used on this event was modified from the ZXMOTO 820RR, a three-cylinder super-sport mannequin. From its core engine and important elements to the general chassis tuning, this manufacturing mannequin is completely developed and manufactured in China.

When discussing the important thing to their success, Zhang Xue said candidly, “We achieved the core advantages of having the highest horsepower, the lightest weight, and the lowest centre of gravity within the same displacement class.”

The ZXMOTO 820RR three-cylinder race replica model.
The ZXMOTO 820RR three-cylinder racing-style motorbike, which was launched simply this yr, noticed a surge in orders after profitable a championship. (Web Image)

The strengths of Chongqing’s motorbike provide chain propel Zhang Xue’s staff to victory

ZXMOTO was based in 2024 and has achieved a number of technological breakthroughs in simply two years. How did it accomplish this?

The reply, in fact, shouldn’t be that easy.

On the one hand, the founder, Zhang Xue, possesses practically 20 years of trade expertise, whereas his staff is singularly centered on high-performance fashions and stays dedicated to the unbiased growth of large-displacement engines.

But the extra vital supply of confidence comes from Chongqing’s strong motorbike industrial chain.

Chongqing is named the “Motorcycle Capital of China”. For each three bikes exported from the nation, one is produced in Chongqing. The area has 51 full automobile producers and over 410 supporting element enterprises, with an area provide charge exceeding 90%.

As Zhang Xue stated after the race, “If you have the blueprint for any part of the motorcycle, it can be made here, and the quality is in no way inferior to that from Europe, America, or Japan.”

A scene from inside ZXMOTO's Chongqing factory, showing the 500RR model on the production line.
Inside ZXMOTO’s Chongqing manufacturing unit, its star mannequin, the 500RR, is “ready to go”. (Image Source: Getty)

Such a whole industrial chain permits for terribly quick analysis and growth iterations, low manufacturing prices, and excessive provide chain effectivity, giving it a bonus even over many worldwide giants.

Read extra: Things you won’t find out about Chongqing, China’s cyberpunk metropolis

The “three-stage symphony” of Chongqing’s motorbike trade transformation

However, the journey of the Chongqing motorbike trade to the place it’s in the present day has not been all easy crusing. In reality, it has taken many detours alongside the way in which.

Starting within the Eighties, motorbike corporations comparable to Jialing (嘉陵), Lifan (力帆), Zongshen (宗申), and Loncin (隆鑫) rose one after one other, and at the moment, Chongqing’s motorbike manufacturing accounted for practically half of the nationwide whole. But the trade principally relied on low-end contract manufacturing and white-label exporting.

In a determined bid to seize market share, corporations engaged in a frantic worth conflict, inflicting revenue margins to put on skinny. As a end result, funding in analysis and growth didn’t hold tempo, resulting in a decline in product high quality and a subsequent vicious circle.

Coupled with the phased introduction of “motorbike bans and restrictions” throughout quite a few Chinese cities, market demand plummeted. This left Chongqing with extreme overcapacity, and the complete trade steadily transitioned from its peak right into a interval of decline across the 2010s.

Facing this droop, there was just one means out for Chongqing’s bikes: transformation and upgrading. Local enterprises primarily did three issues to combine the economic chain:

First, technological innovation.

Moving away from low-end, cut-throat competitors, the trade has turned its focus to the unbiased growth of key elements—comparable to engines, digital management methods, and braking methods.

The major goal grew to become high-performance fashions with medium-to-large displacements, alongside the optimisation of total product high quality and the advance of native sourcing charges.

A Cyclone motorcycle at a motor show
Zongshen, a number one motorbike enterprise in Chongqing, based its personal high-end motorbike model, Cyclone. Several of its fashions have efficiently entered the European market. Pictured is a Cyclone motorbike at a motor present. (Web Image)

Second, world branding.

Moving away from Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM), corporations have established their very own mid-to-high-end manufacturers, comparable to Cyclone (賽科龍) and Voge (無極). They have upgraded their export fashions to interrupt into premium markets whereas sustaining a strong foothold in conventional markets throughout Southeast Asia and Africa.

Next is cultural empowerment.

By integrating motorcycling with way of life developments and cultural tourism, the trade is creating homegrown racing IPs and enhancing occasions just like the China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition.

This strategy extends to motorcycle-themed journey pictures, artistic parks, and curated driving routes, successfully utilizing tradition to drive client spending.

The motorcycle wall at cultural and creative park in the Chongqing High-tech Zone.
The Chongqing High-tech Zone has a motorbike cultural and inventive park, the place a wall of bikes attracts many fans to take pictures. (Web Image)

It is exactly via the three steps that Chongqing’s motorbike trade has bounced again from its lowest level.

Nowadays, its core applied sciences comparable to full automobile tuning, engines, and energy methods have reached an internationally main degree. At the identical time, by advantage of a particularly excessive worth for cash, it has efficiently opened up high-end markets in Europe, America, and the Middle East.

The Chongqing motorbike trade has not stopped there, however as an alternative has intently adopted the development of electrification and good expertise, repeatedly upgrading and creating.

To develop its market footprint, Chongqing has launched main electrical bicycle enterprises comparable to Aima (愛瑪) and Yadea (雅迪). The complete trade is turning into clever, with the primary engine workshop utilizing AI to enhance manufacturing effectivity.

After ZXMOTO’s victory, the Chongqing authorities additionally adopted up on the victory.

On the 31 March 2026, Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area introduced that it’s planning to construct a high-end motorbike industrial park, offering ZXMOTO with a brand new base of practically 200 mu (about 13.33 hectare) to additional promote the event of the high-end motorbike trade.

From low-end contract manufacturing to unbiased analysis and growth and model elevation, Chongqing’s motorbike trade has efficiently pivoted in the direction of high-end transformation. It is now firmly on a brand new monitor of high-quality growth.

Supported by the synergy of technological innovation and a sturdy industrial ecosystem, breakthroughs like these achieved by ZXMOTO staff are sure to turn into more and more widespread, embodying the duty and mission of “Made in China” on this new period.

Read extra: Competing for China’s “Capital of New Energy Vehicles”, which metropolis comes out on high?


This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.ourchinastory.com/en/16770
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