Chongqing - The 24th China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition (CIMAMotor) opened in Chongqing on September 19. As China’s only national-level professional motorcycle exhibition, this year’s event brought together 1,120 exhibitors and attracted more than 50,000 visitors on its opening day.

On September 19, crowds gathered at the ZXMOTO booth at CIMAMotor for the launch of its new models. (Photo/CIMAMotor)

Pakistani visitor Taya said Chongqing is an important motorcycle hub, and that he is also a motorcycle enthusiast who has ridden a Cyclone motorcycle, a Chongqing brand in China. Uzbekistani visitor Nikita said he came to the exhibition to see “where the industry is heading.” Moroccan visitor Wissal said she wanted to learn more about Chinese motorcycles and technologies, and highlighted ZXMOTO, saying its quality, design and color choices left a strong impression on her.

The interest reflects the rapid growth of Chongqing’s motorcycle industry. From January to August 2026, Chongqing produced 7.776 million motorcycles, up 50.5% year on year. In the first half of the year, the city exported 3.385 million motorcycles, up 9%, with electric motorcycle exports increasing by more than 130%.

At this year’s CIMAMotor, Chongqing-based brand ZXMOTO became one of the highlights. The brand competed in the FIM Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP) this year and has secured six victories so far.

Beyond racing results, the connection between track technology and production motorcycles has also drawn attention. Paul Huang, Sales Director of ZXMOTO, told Kai that the 820RR was developed around racing needs, with some track technologies being transferred to street riding scenarios. These include an adjustable front rake angle and rear anti-squat geometry, allowing the motorcycle to adapt to different riders and riding conditions.

Meanwhile, ZXMOTO expands from sport motorcycles into more segments. Huang said adventure motorcycles have strong demand in overseas markets such as Europe, so the company has developed related products for both Chinese and European markets, while cruiser models mainly target demand in China.

Behind the expansion of its product lineup is the faster global expansion of Chinese motorcycle companies into mature overseas markets. This year, more than 200 ZXMOTO motorcycles were shipped from Chongqing to Poland, while another 330 units were sent to Spain, marking the brand’s first bulk exports to Europe since its establishment.

During the same period, Chongqing’s production of mid- and large-displacement high-end motorcycles increased by 67% year on year, while exports of motorcycles above 800cc grew more than fourfold.

According to Huang, entering the European market is not simply about selling motorcycles overseas. European consumers care not only about performance and price, but also product quality, after-sales service, and the “trust” between brands and riders. Participating in global racing events provides a way for companies to demonstrate performance and enhance brand recognition, while reliable products and services are the foundation for building long-term market trust.

From racing achievements and product upgrades to expanding exports in Europe, CIMAMotor 2026 reflects a broader shift in Chongqing’s motorcycle industry — from large-scale manufacturing toward high-performance, high-value products, and from domestic markets toward global competition.