Workers work at Yadea Group's intelligent production base of electric scooters in Yongchuan District of southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 22, 2022. (Photo/Xinhua)
Chongqing - Recently, the first phase of the Luyuan Group's Chongqing Base in Dazu District was officially put into production. The project boasts an annual production capacity of 2 million electric vehicles, with a total output value exceeding 4 billion yuan ($549.49 million).
Li Rongyan, Director of the Dazu District Commission of Commerce, stated that currently, 17 intelligent connected electric vehicle manufacturers and 106 component suppliers, including those for motorcycle frames, lights, and instruments, have been attracted to the Dazu High-tech Zone. It is expected that by 2027, the annual production of intelligent connected electric vehicles will reach 4 million units.
"With rapid development in the electric vehicle sector, Dazu is a microcosm of the acceleration of Chongqing's motorcycle industry towards electrification," said Zhao Ruiqiang, Vice President of the Chongqing Chamber of Commerce for Motorcycle. In recent years, Chongqing has accelerated its development of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers. In 2022, the production of electric motorcycles in Chongqing was only 710,000 units, but by 2024, the production and sales of electric motorcycles in the city have reached nearly 3 million units.
Chongqing RATO Holding Group Co Ltd specializes in exporting motorcycle products to overseas markets. Last year, the company exported over 300,000 motorcycles, and this year, it is set to launch electric motorcycles abroad for the first time.
"Currently, there is huge global demand for electric motorcycles, which is why we designed and developed electric motorcycle products in 2024," said Zhang Nan, Manager of Comprehensive Management at RATO group. As the world focuses more on environmental protection, electric motorcycles, which offer both low carbon emissions and convenience, are gradually becoming the preferred choice for short-distance travel among global consumers, Zhang added.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs, in 2024, Chinese electric motorcycles and bicycles saw strong overseas sales, with exports exceeding 40 billion yuan for the first time.
The trend of electrifying motorcycles has gradually become a consensus within the industry.
At the 2024 China Motorcycle Chongqing Forum, industry experts and company leaders mentioned that the positive development of electric motorcycles from both a technological and market perspective.
Technologically, thanks to the automotive industry's shift towards electric vehicles, the rapid advancement of power battery technology has directly improved electric motorcycle batteries, significantly lowering battery costs.
On the market side, global electric motorcycle shipments have been steadily rising in recent years, especially in Southeast Asia, a major motorcycle market. Many countries in the region have introduced policies to promote electric motorcycles. For example, Indonesia began offering subsidies for citizens aged 17 and above to purchase electric motorcycles in 2023, and plans to launch 2 million electric motorcycles by 2025. Thailand plans to increase the proportion of electric motorcycles in its ride-hailing services to 10 percent by 2026.
Zuo Zongshen, President of the China Chamber of Commerce for Motorcycle and Chairman of Zonsen Group, believed that electrification and intelligence are becoming new trends in the motorcycle industry. Companies must keep up with these trends and market demands to avoid being left behind.
Chongqing, a major motorcycle manufacturing hub, is embracing the shift towards electric vehicles.
One of the strategies to achieve this is attracting top players in the industry.
Yadea, a dominant force in the electric vehicle sector, saw its sales exceed 13 million units in 2024, with cumulative global sales surpassing 100 million units. To bring this industry leader on board, Yongchuan District in Chongqing took proactive measures, visiting Yadea's headquarters in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, and eventually reaching a cooperation agreement.
On the last day of 2021, Yadea's electric vehicle production base in Chongqing's Yongchuan District was officially completed and put into operation, marking the district's first venture into the electric vehicle industry. With the influence of this industry giant, Yongchuan quickly attracted over 200 upstream and downstream electric vehicle companies.
Following Yadea's example, electric vehicle companies Aima and Tailg soon followed suit, signing investment agreements with Tongliang District and Dazu District, respectively.
In 2022, Aima's factory in Tongliang began operations, and in 2023, Tailg's base in Dazu also started production. With this, China's top three electric vehicle companies have settled in Chongqing and begun production.
"In 2024, these three leading electric vehicle manufacturers in Chongqing reached nearly 3 million units in total production volume, with a total output value exceeding 7 billion yuan," a representative from Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology said, adding that once the production capacities of these three companies are fully realized, the annual production of electric vehicles will increase significantly.
Currently, Chongqing is home to eight electric vehicle manufacturing companies, with most of them located in the western part of the city.
Meanwhile, local motorcycle companies in Chongqing are also accelerating their transformation. Many have launched their own electric motorcycle products. For example, Loncin Motor has introduced a high-end brand Bicose, with the model offering over 100 km range and intelligent connectivity; Zonsen has collaborated with BYD to develop power batteries.
As of now, Chongqing's electric vehicle industry has a local supply rate exceeding 60 percent, with key components such as motors, controllers, frames, lights, and instruments being sourced locally.
Chongqing's motorcycle industry is accelerating its transition to electrification, not only focusing on the present but also looking to the future.
In January this year, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology signed an agreement with some domestic electric vehicle manufacturers and research institutions to build a global development system for the intelligent connected electric vehicle industry. The agreement outlines a collaborative effort to create China's intelligent connected electric vehicle standards system and accelerate the development of Chongqing into a global industry hub for intelligent connected electric vehicles.
A representative from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology stated that the city is currently developing an action plan for the development of Chongqing's intelligent connected electric vehicle industry. The plan will set related goals, lists, and projects, continuously optimize the industry ecosystem, and speed up the establishment of a global hub for intelligent connected electric vehicles.
In addition to government-led planning, industry professionals are also optimistic about the electrification of Chongqing's motorcycle sector.
"Chongqing can focus on niche segments within the electric motorcycle industry. For electric off-road motorcycles, for example, the city has many representative companies in this field that rank highly nationwide," said an industry insider.
(Chongqing Daily contributed to this report.)
(Dai Xuelin, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)
By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
For any inquiries, please email service@ichongqing.info