China Motorcycle Market

13.8 million gasoline motorcycles were sold in China in 2022 and 4.4 million gasoline motorcycles were sold between January to April of this year, a year-to-year decrease of 4%. 

Chinese-made motorcycles dominate the domestic motorcycle market under 800 ML displacement, while imported brands dominate 800 ML and above. 

The volume of motorcycle imports increased by more than 60% annually on average 2017-2021. Covid did have a significant impact on consumers and imports only increased 6% to 156,000 motorcycles in 2022. In Q1 of 2023, China imported 28,000 motorcycles, an increase of 2%. Notably Imports of motorcycles with a displacement over 800 ML increased 123%. 

In 2022, the top ten cities which purchased the largest engine output motorcycles were Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Jinan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Kunming, Guangzhou and Zhengzhou. 

In the three years of China’s zero Covid policy China’s motorcycle industry changed, with consumers more interested in electric vehicles as well as cycles that have more internet connectivity and autonomous/driver assist capabilities. A second change is that demand for electrical scooters has increased dramatically in recent years, and some Chinese scooter manufacturers have started to manufacture electrical motorcycles. 

China is one of the largest motorcycle manufacturing countries in the world, over half of the production is sold to countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. However, exports have recently slumped with China exporting only 7.6 million motorcycles in 2022, a year-to-year decrease of 16% and exported 2.3 million motorcycles from January to April of 2023, a year-to-year decrease of 11%. 

Relevant trade shows: 
1.    CIMA Motor, September 15-18, 2023, Chongqing 
2.    2024 China Motorcycle Trade Show, date TBD, Beijing 

For further information, please contact CS Beijing Commercial Specialist Jessica Tan at feng.tan@trade.gov