Chongqing's motorcycle biz revs up

In a significant display of international cooperation and industry evolution, the 2026 China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition in Chongqing served as a pivotal platform for global motorcycle manufacturers and suppliers.

The event, which concluded on Tuesday, underscored the interconnectedness of the global supply chain, leading to numerous collaboration agreements aimed at enhancing innovation and sustainability in motorcycle manufacturing.

Also known as CIMAMotor, the exhibition was held from Saturday to Tuesday at the Chongqing International Expo Center in the city's Liangjiang New Area, and is China's only national-level motorcycle trade show and the world's second-largest.

Since its inception in 2002, the annual exhibition has become a premier platform for industry exchange and collaboration, showcasing the latest innovations in motorcycle technology.

The opening day of the exhibition saw over 50,000 visitors, with more than 2,500 international professionals from over 100 countries, including the United States, Italy, Germany, France and Japan.

This year's event set new benchmarks with over 100 global motorcycle and electric vehicle brands, 1,120 exhibitors and more than 3,000 vehicles on display, covering the full spectrum of the motorcycle industry's supply chain, the organizing committee said.

The 190,000-square-meter venue features eight indoor halls and an outdoor zone, aligning with industry trends in electrification, intelligence and high-end development.

Exhibits included fuel and electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles, covering a wide range of categories such as racing replicas, cruisers, scooters, street bikes, vintage models, rally bikes and off-road vehicles, along with parts and components. The comprehensive display highlighted the entire motorcycle industry's supply chain in a showcase of global manufacturing excellence.

The global spotlight was on the two-day bustling supply chain and trade matchmaking sessions, which attracted around 110 international buyers from key motorcycle markets such as Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Over 200 leading Chinese motorcycle manufacturers participated in targeted matchmaking sessions, underscoring China's pivotal role in the global motorcycle industry.

One of the attendees, Sacit Ertug, CEO of Ertug Reklam, a motorcycle maker based in Istanbul, Turkiye, was on the hunt for Chinese suppliers that could provide completely knocked down motorcycles, a format essential for his company.

"I discovered the exhibition online and decided to attend, flying nearly half a day to get here," Ertug said.

His company is currently bracing for the electrification of motorcycles, planning to use its own chassis, batteries and locally sourced tires while sourcing the rest of the motorcycle components — such as the engine and electrical hub motor — from China.

His journey to Chongqing was facilitated by Ahmet Palta, a young man fluent in Chinese and a former international student in Beijing.

Palta, Ertug's business partner, is responsible for procurement and supplier development in China for Voltivo Ata Holding, a Turkish company focused on electric motorcycles, battery-swapping infrastructure and digital mobility services. Palta noted that his company operates a team similar to Meituan, a major online service company in China, delivering fast food such as Burger King using their own riders.

Previously reliant on gasoline-powered motorcycles, they are now transitioning to electric, eco-friendly models. Palta assisted Ertug with procurement during his Chongqing visit, and the plan is for Ertug to handle the assembly of the electric motorcycles for Voltivo in their home country, and then sell the electric bikes to the riders.