Chinese motorcycle makers gain ground in Europe, with China now EU's second supplier

Crowds at the Milan show

At EICMA in Milan, Europe's largest motorcycle fair, visitors crowded the CFMoto stand on Friday, 6 November. The Hangzhou-based company first made its name by producing engines and assembling models for Austria's KTM, then won two Moto3 (250 cc) championships, in 2024 and 2026. Fans of BMW, Honda and Ducati gathered around a powerful model fitted with aerodynamic fins and an off-road machine ridden by the brand's new ambassador, Spanish rider Mario Román. Other Chinese names were present as well: Cyclone, from Chongqing, handed T-shirts to teenagers, while QJ Motor has owned the Italian marque Benelli since 2005.

A share that has grown fast

A report published on Thursday, 5 November, by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) places China as the EU's second-largest motorcycle supplier in 2025, behind Japan. Chinese bikes accounted for 27.1% of imports, worth one billion euros. The climb is steepest in large-displacement machines. China now supplies nearly a third of EU imports of motorcycles above 250 cc, up from 7% in 2019, and these models typically sell for 10 to 25% less than comparable Japanese or European bikes. Motorcycle press that once viewed these machines with curiosity now tests them alongside established brands.

Over 250 cc imports, 20197%

All motorcycle imports, 202527.1%

Over 250 cc imports, 2019

7 %

All motorcycle imports, 2025

27.1 %

Data from the article text

Price gap and trade barriers

Large motorcycles from China pay a 6% duty when they enter Europe, while the same category faces a 45% rate on exports to China. ACEM is not asking for tariffs, as the car sector has, but for 'fair and reciprocal access to markets' to protect sales. The association says the two-wheeler industry supports nearly 210,000 jobs in Europe. The British magazine Motorcycle News calls 2026 'the year of the tipping point' for the sector.

Entering the EU from China6%

Exports to China45%

Entering the EU from China

6 %

Exports to China

45 %

Data from the article text

What buyers say

Renato Polistene, a 64-year-old Italian craftsman who rides a KTM, said he could consider a Chinese model because other brands' prices have risen sharply and their base versions carry too many optional extras.

“They are beautiful. They may not have exactly the same parts as the Japanese manufacturers, but at this price, it works.”

He added that reliability remains the big question. Executives from a large Italian manufacturer also visited the CFMoto stand, and one of them said the Chinese brands could do harm over the long term, though the price still had to be seen. A 27-year-old woman police officer from Turin came to the show looking for a Triumph but stopped at the ZXMoto stand, where she said she was very impressed by the design.

Sales in France and Romania

In France, CFMoto rose to fifth place in October, ahead of Triumph, Suzuki, KTM and Yamaha. Bertrand Mace of the Mobilians association described the shift as a real revolution coming from the East. In Romania, CFMoto ranked first in motorcycle sales in 2025 for the first time, ahead of Honda, Yamaha and BMW. Across the first nine months of 2026, 2,204 new CFMoto motorcycles were registered, 77.9% more than a year earlier, according to DGPCI data. The best-selling new motorcycle in the country is the CFMoto 450MT.