The Second Odyssey of the World’s Motorcycle Capital: Chongqing Motorcycles’ Brand Odyssey

The Second Odyssey of the World’s Motorcycle Capital: Chongqing Motorcycles’ Brand Odyssey | Let’s Meet

The first international broadcast program in Chongqing, the 253rd special episode of “Let’s Meet,” titled “The Second Odyssey of the World’s Motorcycle Capital: Chongqing Motorcycles’ Brand Odyssey”, and produced by WCICO, will be broadcast globally on October 10.

In the first two episodes, we traced the development of Chongqing’s motorcycle industry over more than four decades, from building a complete industrial system and navigating the ups and downs of its initial expansion into overseas markets to transforming the industry in recent years through technological innovation and product upgrades. As manufacturing capabilities and product competitiveness continue to improve, Chongqing’s motorcycle companies are shifting their focus toward building their own brands, aiming to turn decades of accumulated industrial strengths into international brand influence.

In the past, Chinese motorcycles entered international markets largely on the strength of their manufacturing capabilities. Today, a growing number of Chongqing motorcycle companies are working to build their own brands with global influence. In the global market, competition is not just about sales volume. It is also about building brand recognition, expanding sales networks, and earning consumer trust through a long-term commitment to local markets. In Western markets, companies are breaking through via innovation, unique positioning, and electrification. SURRON, for instance, has ranked first in electric off-road motorcycle sales in the UK for nearly five consecutive years. In markets across Asia, Africa and Latin America, firms like Shangfeng abandoned price wars for deep customization and direct service, doubling their orders. Chongqing-made motorcycle exports reached 17.89 billion RMB from January to July 2026, with huge gains in large-displacement and electric bikes rapidly closing the gap with Japanese leaders in places like Brazil.

From establishing a complete industrial system and upgrading products to developing their own brands, Chongqing’s motorcycle industry is embarking on its second wave of global expansion. This time, the goal is no longer simply to sell products around the world, but to make Chinese brands visible, recognized, and preferred by overseas consumers. In this episode, we explore how Chongqing’s motorcycle companies are making the leap from product exports to international brand building, and uncover new global opportunities for China’s motorcycle industry.