From April 15 to May 5, the 139th China Import and Export Fair was held in Guangzhou. At the event, Zhang Xue Motorcycle's booth attracted large crowds, with international buyers lining up to take photos with its championship model. In March 2026, Zhang Xue Motorcycle won first place at the World Superbike Championship in Portugal, marking the first time a Chinese motorcycle brand stood atop the podium at a world-class event, breaking a 37-year monopoly held by European, American, and Japanese manufacturers. This "champion effect" is rapidly translating into global orders. Yang Yang, Overseas Brand Director of Zhang Xue Motorcycle, stated, "Based on our existing product plan for next year, we aim to achieve approximately 1.6 billion yuan in revenue, with research and development investment accounting for over one-third of that." He added, "In the second half of this year, following EU emission certification, we will begin batch exports of several thousand to tens of thousands of large-displacement motorcycles to Europe, Southeast Asia, and other regions." This indicates that the Chinese brand, having proven itself on the racetrack, is accelerating its expansion into the global market.

How is a championship motorcycle built? The answer lies within the stories of multiple booths at the Canton Fair and within the supply chain network woven by Chinese manufacturing over decades. The strength of this supply chain is reflected in a localization rate exceeding 90%. At the Zhang Xue Motorcycle booth, a buyer from Bangladesh enthusiastically shared his admiration for the motorcycle's design and quality, noting a shift from previous reliance on Japanese brands. Yang Yang revealed, "Over 90% of the components for our motorcycle are domestically sourced. Core engine parts, exhaust pipes, fuel tanks, and more all come from suppliers in Guangdong." A Zhang Xue motorcycle is essentially the result of nationwide supply chain collaboration. According to Yang, the supplier network spans Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu-Zhejiang, Shandong, and other provinces. Chongqing serves as the base for powertrain systems; Guangdong holds advantages in high-end materials and precision components; while Jiangsu-Zhejiang and Shandong provide crucial support in specific niche areas. This national supply chain layout is not merely a collection of purchased parts but a tightly coordinated ecosystem. Yang pointed out, "Chinese manufacturing is now fully competitive with international standards in parts processing, materials, and manufacturing techniques. By integrating the nation's high-precision supply chain, we can control costs effectively." This integration capability allows Zhang Xue Motorcycle to match the performance of top-tier brands like Honda and Yamaha while maintaining an end-user price at 70% to 80% of competing international brands. Yang described this as the core competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing, citing significant advantages in quality control and cost management. He further disclosed that the company's R&D investment accounted for 22% of revenue last year and is set to increase, with plans aiming for at least one-third of the targeted 16 billion yuan revenue next year to be allocated to R&D. The ultimate goal is to achieve a position among the world's top ten motorcycle manufacturers by market share.

Zhang Xue Motorcycle's victory is not a solo achievement but a testament to the resonance of China's entire motorcycle industry chain. At the booth of Jiangmen Zhenghao Motorcycle Co., Ltd., Tang Fuxing, International Trade Manager, was busy receiving a steady stream of overseas clients. She noted that Zhang Xue's international success has boosted the reputation of all Chinese motorcycle brands. A customer from Uruguay, himself a user of Zhang Xue motorcycles, specifically inquired about the connection between Zhang Xue and Jiangmen. Upon learning that several core components for Zhang Xue are produced in Jiangmen, the customer's interest in collaboration intensified immediately. This scenario was common at the fair. Tang stated that international recognition for Chinese-made motorcycles is growing significantly due to the impact of Zhang Xue's success, representing a major positive development for the industry. Jiangmen Zhenghao showcased a new generation electric motorcycle featuring range-extending hybrid technology, offering a combined range of 880 kilometers on a full charge and tank of fuel—more than double that of traditional gasoline motorcycles. The inspiration for the range-extending technology came from mature solutions used by BYD and Denza. Tang emphasized that key components like the motor, electronic controls, and range extender are all developed in-house. The company has already received orders exceeding 1,000 units from countries including Ghana, Uruguay, Thailand, and the UAE at the fair. Tang showed a nearly filled意向登记册 (intent registration book), indicating strong interest. She reported that inquiries for electric motorcycles and range-extending technology at this year's fair have increased by over 60% compared to the previous year. While past exports primarily targeted Belt and Road Initiative countries, this year saw increased interest from clients in developed regions like Japan, South Korea, and Europe, who showed keen interest in the range-extending technology.

The global trend of transitioning from gasoline to electric vehicles, driven by rising oil prices, was also highlighted. He Jian, Assistant to the General Manager of Shenzhen Kaixin Electronics Co., Ltd., noted increasing orders from Europe, the Americas, and Belt and Road countries as consumers seek to reduce travel costs. Kaixin Electronics introduced a new electric scooter equipped with a 1100W motor, a top speed of 40 km/h, and a range of 100 km, catering to long-distance commuting needs. He revealed a confirmed order from Italy for 30 high-cube containers, amounting to approximately 1,200-1,500 units and valued in the millions of US dollars. Nearby, the booth of Zhangzhou Huawei Power Source Technology Co., Ltd. also attracted numerous overseas buyers. An interesting connection exists between Huawei Power and Zhang Xue Motorcycle. Yuan Fukang, New Energy Project Director at Huawei Power, expressed some regret, noting, "We didn't sign an agreement with Zhang Xue beforehand. We are also a sponsor of WSBK and collaborate technically with BMW, supporting a WSBK team. The champions for the two years preceding Zhang Xue's victory were associated with us." The field of motorcycle power batteries is undergoing a quiet transformation. Yuan showcased their new product: a sodium-ion starter battery. He described sodium-ion batteries as a new product capable of revolutionizing the fate of lead-acid batteries, perfectly replacing and optimizing them by overcoming the difficulties and drawbacks encountered during over a century of lead-acid battery use. Manufacturing lead-acid batteries poses environmental challenges. Yuan recalled that a national environmental regulatory campaign in 2010 reduced the number of lead-acid battery manufacturers from a peak of over 2,000 to just a few hundred. In contrast, the primary material for sodium-ion batteries is sodium, which is abundantly available—essentially from seawater in China—making the resource unrestricted. He stated that sodium resources are nearly 1,000 times more abundant than lithium resources. In terms of application, sodium-ion batteries have an extremely wide coverage, suitable for virtually any scenario where lead-acid batteries were previously used. Yuan noted that CATL's launch of sodium-ion batteries in June last year validates industry consensus on this technological path. He expressed strong confidence in the future of sodium-ion batteries, believing they will undoubtedly become a leading force in new energy due to their inexhaustible raw materials. He predicted that manufacturing costs could eventually fall below those of lead-acid batteries, and within three to five years, sodium-ion batteries would dominate many more application scenarios.

In the past, the core competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing was "cost-performance," producing adequate products at lower costs. Now, from Zhang Xue Motorcycle's championship bike, to Jiangmen Zhenghao's range-extending electric motorcycle, and Huawei Power's sodium-ion batteries, Chinese companies are redefining themselves with "quality-performance ratio": offering superior technology, better quality, and more reasonable prices. Back at the bustling Zhang Xue Motorcycle booth, the championship bike stood quietly. Every screw, every pipe, and the flowing lines of its body embody the collective intelligence of China's supply chain, narrating a new story for Chinese manufacturing.