ZXMoto leads China’s charge to dominate the global motorbike market

Zhang Xue witnessed his company's superbike triumphantly cross the finish line at the Supersport World Championship, finishing four seconds ahead of competitors. This victory sparked a surge in orders for ZXMoto's motorcycles, propelling the firm as it competes in China's highly competitive motorbike market. Founded just two years ago, ZXMoto challenges leading manufacturers like Ducati, Yamaha, and Honda, offering bikes at a fraction of their prices.

Founder Zhang Xue, a former mechanic, expressed joy at the company's rapid growth and his vision for global dominance. The flagship 820RR model, boasting 133 horsepower and accelerating to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, retails for about 43,000 yuan ($6,370) in China, significantly cheaper than foreign alternatives. Despite strong sales growth, ZXMoto faces a shrinking domestic market and intense competition.

With sales projected to reach 100,000 this year and double by 2027, ZXMoto aims to export 40,000 bikes to Europe by 2027. Chinese motorcycle sales fell 3.4% in 2025 and continued to decline in 2026, as consumers favor cars or less regulated electric bikes. Despite this, ZXMoto anticipates that Chinese brands, with their prestige and heritage, can eventually overtake established Japanese and European rivals.