Visitors gather to photograph ZXMOTO’s championship-winning model at its booth at the 24th China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition. (Photo/Xie Zhiqiang)
Chongqing - Behind every motorcycle made in Chongqing is a vast network of suppliers, engineers and manufacturers. As global competition shifts toward premium, electric and smart models, the city is transforming its manufacturing strength into new international competitiveness.
The city in southwestern China has a “one-hour motorcycle industry cluster,” with manufacturers and many key suppliers often less than an hour’s drive apart. It is home to 431 motorcycle parts manufacturers above China’s designated size threshold, meaning annual revenue from their main business of at least 20 million yuan.
The local sourcing rate for gasoline-powered motorcycles remains at 80% or more. In 2025, Chongqing exported 6.109 million motorcycles worth 26.47 billion yuan (approx. 3.96 billion U.S. dollars).
The network covers key components, including engines, transmissions, frames and suspension systems. The supply chain has also attracted motorcycle manufacturers.
For example, CFMOTO established operations in Chongqing in 2023. According to the company, suppliers in Chongqing and the wider southwest now account for more than 30% of the group’s total procurement. Yadea’s factory in Chongqing Yongchuan attracted 35 key suppliers to the area. Surron worked with local parts factories through repeated prototype trials to develop its Light Bee electric dirt bike before expanding into overseas markets.
Some leading motorcycle and parts manufacturers have entered the midrange and premium markets, but a comprehensive supplier network does not mean advanced capabilities are widespread. Shi Xiaohui, President of the Chongqing Automobile and Motorcycle Industry Association, said: “the real gap is that these companies’ advanced capabilities have not yet spread fully throughout the supply chain.”
Change needs to begin with closer collaboration in R&D. Engines, transmissions and suspension systems for high-performance motorcycles must be designed, matched and tested together from the outset. Yet some suppliers still focus on producing parts to manufacturers’ drawings and orders. Some smaller suppliers also need to improve their R&D, testing and precision manufacturing capabilities.
A technical manager at Chongqing Yujiang Lanfeng said teams responsible for key components should join development when a motorcycle project begins. Peng Jianzhong, Deputy General Manager of CFMOTO’s Chongqing operation, said leading manufacturers should also extend consistent quality standards to second- and third-tier suppliers to improve the entire supply chain.
Long-term reliability also requires sustained engineering work. Stability during high-speed cornering and reliability under prolonged heavy loads depend on repeated testing and tuning. Some Chongqing companies compete internationally, but few sustain that involvement over the long term. Dedicated racing facilities remain underdeveloped, and testing under complex operating conditions needs to improve.
Zhao Hong, General Manager of Kove, a Chongqing motorcycle firm, recommended making racing part of R&D and product development. Guo Song, General Manager of the Motorcycle Testing Division at China Merchants Testing Vehicle Technology Research Institute, called for better durability testing and a stronger pool of specialists in motorcycle dynamics, chassis engineering and electronic controls. Lessons from racing need to feed into continued product improvements and, ultimately, more reliable everyday riding.
Electrification brings new supply chain requirements. Chongqing produced 3.127 million electric motorcycles in the first eight months of 2026, up 63% year on year. However, the local sourcing rate is about 60%, with gaps remaining in batteries, motors and electronic controls. Existing expertise in mold machining, frame manufacturing and vehicle integration remains useful but needs to be combined with electronics and software capabilities.
Zhou Hua, Deputy General Manager of Chongqing Yadea Technology, suggested that leading companies work with universities and research institutes on core algorithms and components, while attracting investment in key supply chain projects and training engineers across disciplines.
Smart electric motorcycles roll off the assembly line at Chongqing Aima Vehicle Technology Co., Ltd. in Chongqing Tongliang. (Photo/Zhang Jinhui)
Beyond technology, Chongqing needs stronger brand recognition. Voge, Cyclone, ZXMOTO and Surron have entered the midrange, premium or specialist segments, but their brand influence has yet to match the city’s manufacturing scale. Building brands that consumers remember and choose repeatedly remains a long-term task as companies expand internationally.