Chongqing
Zhang Xue wept with joy and furiously waved a Chinese flag as he watched his company’s superbike scream across the finish line four seconds ahead of competitors in only its third world championship race.
That victory at the Supersport World Championship in March saw orders for ZXMoto’s two-wheelers skyrocket and provided a boost for the firm as it battles for an edge in the highly competitive Chinese motorbike market.
The company was founded just two years ago but already rivals leading manufacturers such as Europe’s Ducati and Japanese giants Yamaha and Honda with a bike retailing for a fraction of their prices.
ZXMoto has doubled its workforce since March and its factory runs 24-hours a day to meet demand, but customers still wait months for orders.
“You have this dream you’ve been thinking about for many years, and when it finally comes true… I was so happy,” Zhang, 39, told AFP at his company’s headquarters in Chongqing.
“Chinese brands are very clear about where our future lies,” said Zhang, a former mechanic who claims he can assemble an engine with his eyes closed.
“It has to be global.”
The firm’s flagship 133-horsepower 820RR motorbike — which accelerates from zero to 100 kilometres and hour in 2.8 seconds — sells for around 43,000 yuan ($6,370) in China, at least 30 percent cheaper than foreign rivals.
“Compared to imported ones like Kawasaki, it’s very good value,” said 28-year-old rider Yang, who owns an 820RR.
“First off, we support domestic production, and second, if the product is truly good, we’ll choose it.”
Sales have soared from 25,000 bikes in 2025 to a projected 100,000 this year, with plans to double that figure by 2027 -– a target on par with BMW’s scope.
However, it faces a shrinking domestic market, vicious competition and squeezed profits.
