Chongqing Motorcycle Industry Sets the African Market in its Crosshairs
During the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) which opened in Chongqing on 22 May 2025, the Commerce Commission of Chongqing City, the Chinese Motorcycle Association, and the China-Africa Business Council jointly organized a side event around the auto and moto industry targeted at the African market.
It is worth recalling that for this year’s edition of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (#CAETE2025) to be held in Changsha in June 2025, the city of Chongqing and the province of Hubei will be placed at the forefront.
Chongqing is famous for its automotive industry, and its motorcyle industry in particular. Several large Chinese motorcycle makers are based in Chongqing, including Gaokin, Lifan, Loncin, Shuangshi, Yinxiang, Zongshen and Seres. In 2024, Chongqing produced nearly 6 million motorcycles and exported nearly half of its production. Out of every two motorcycles made in China, one is from Chongqing.
During the Fair, the report on “Chongqing Auto and Moto Exports to Africa” was officially presented and launched. Motorcycles from Chongqing are exported all over the world and the African market is seen as the new frontier. To meet future demand, Chongqing plans to boost its production capacity to 8 million motorcycles annually by 2027. Chongqing is also adopting the latest AI to automate its assembly lines and enhance its quality control.
Some motorcycle makers are also mulling plans to set up assembly plants overseas. Another notable trend is the growing popularity of electric scooters and motorbikes which have less moving parts and thus require less maintenance. Yet, another popular choice in Africa is the sustained demand for tricycle motors with higher capacity for goods.
The Haojue motorcycle made in Guangdong has also been able to make an entry into Africa. However, Indian and Japanese motorcycles entered African market earlier and have thus taken the lead. In order to carve out a spot in the African market, Chinese motorcycle makers will have up their game to bring value and convenience to the African consumer.