Domestic Large-Displacement Motorcycle Penetration Rate Continues to Rise as Chinese Motorcycle Companies Embark on Globalization 2.0 Journey

Stock News
Sep 03

A research report indicates that as domestic motorcycle companies' R&D capabilities and product quality control continue to strengthen, the gap between domestic and global leading motorcycle companies in terms of products and technology has significantly narrowed. Leveraging China's manufacturing cost-effectiveness advantages and continuously improving brand reputation, domestic motorcycle exports (especially large-displacement motorcycle exports) are expected to maintain strong momentum, with leading domestic motorcycle companies having substantial growth potential.

Key focus companies include: Chunfeng Power (603129.SH), Longxin General (603766.SH), and Qianjiang Motorcycle (000913.SZ). Worth monitoring: Great Wall Motor Company Limited (601633.SH, 02333) high-end brand - Soul Motor.

**Global motorcycle sales steady with growth, exceeding 60 million units in 2024.** Europe (excluding Turkey) + United States + Australia represent the main global large-displacement motorcycle markets, with large-displacement sales penetration rates averaging over 60%. Southeast Asia + India constitute the largest overseas motorcycle market, with combined market size exceeding 30 million units, primarily consisting of low-end small-displacement commuter motorcycles. Latin America + Mexico are major export regions for Chinese motorcycle companies, mainly featuring low-end commuter vehicles. Recent years have seen rapid motorcycle sales growth with rising large-displacement motorcycle penetration rates. African motorcycle sales are around 2 million units, primarily concentrated in West Africa.

**Japanese + Indian + Chinese motorcycle companies dominate the global motorcycle market, with European and American brands focusing on large-displacement vehicles.** From the perspective of major global motorcycle players: 1) The four major Japanese companies have long development histories with rich technological and channel accumulation, offering products from low-end small-displacement to high-end sports bikes, maintaining leading global positions; 2) Indian manufacturers mainly concentrate on low-end small-displacement markets, holding significant market shares in India and Africa; 3) Chinese manufacturers Haojue and Longxin rank in the global top 10 by market share, but current sales mainly concentrate on low-end commuter models, with domestic brand CR3 (Chunfeng, Longxin, Qianjiang) gradually breaking through in high-end large-displacement models; 4) European and American brands primarily focus on high-end large-displacement markets with relatively low overall market shares.

**Domestic motorcycle demand declining overall, but large-displacement motorcycles show significant growth potential.** Domestic motorcycle sales declined consecutively in 2023-2024, reaching 8.91 million units in 2024, down 16.6% year-over-year. However, large-displacement motorcycle demand grew against the trend, with sales increasing from approximately 140,000 units in 2020 to 400,000 units in 2024, achieving a CAGR of 30%.

Comparing with Japan, which shares similar East Asian cultural background, China's current large-displacement motorcycle market development stage resembles Japan in the 1980s. From 1980-1985, Japan's large-displacement motorcycle sales penetration rate increased from 4.1% to 6.9%, with peak sales per 10,000 people reaching approximately 12.4 units, 4x China's current level (China's 2024 figure: approximately 2.8 units). Peak ownership per 10,000 people reached 64 units, also about 4x China's current level, indicating substantial growth potential for China's domestic large-displacement market.

**Exports contribute significant incremental sales for domestic motorcycle companies, with broad overseas expansion opportunities for large-displacement motorcycles.** From 2020-2024, China's motorcycle export sales increased from 7.0906 million units to 11.0161 million units, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.64%. Export proportion of total sales rose from 41.5% to 55.3%, making exports an important growth engine for Chinese motorcycle sales.

Currently, Chinese motorcycle companies hold less than 10% market share in overseas large-displacement motorcycle markets, indicating broad expansion opportunities. According to calculations, major overseas regions had combined large-displacement motorcycle sales of approximately 4 million units in 2024. It is projected that domestic (internal sales, neutral scenario)/overseas large-displacement sales will reach 700,000 units/4.46 million units respectively by 2028. Under neutral scenarios, Chinese motorcycle companies are expected to export nearly 900,000 large-displacement motorcycles by 2028, with large-displacement motorcycle export sales CAGR of approximately 25.5% from 2024-2028.

**Risk Warning:** Tariff policy risks, large-displacement motorcycle penetration rate increases falling short of expectations, motorcycle company overseas expansion progress falling short of expectations.

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Most Discussed

  1. 1
     
     
     
     
  2. 2
     
     
     
     
  3. 3
     
     
     
     
  4. 4
     
     
     
     
  5. 5
     
     
     
     
  6. 6
     
     
     
     
  7. 7
     
     
     
     
  8. 8
     
     
     
     
  9. 9
     
     
     
     
  10. 10