Chinese motorcycles drive mobility, opportunity in Africa

After dropping off a passenger, Rwandan motorcycle taxi driver Emmanuel Nsabimana quickly picks up his next ride. A year ago, he bought a Chinese-brand motorcycle, which has since become a reliable partner in his daily work.

"It is durable and comfortable. Passengers love it," Emmanuel said with a smile.

In many African cities, such as Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, motorcycles have become a popular mode of transport due to their flexibility, convenience and affordability. They not only serve as private vehicles but also play a key role in public transit, especially in congested urban areas.

As China-Africa cooperation deepens, Chinese motorcycles are drawing widespread traction across the continent. In Kigali, Rwanda, customers browse a showroom filled with models from Haojin Motorcycle. In Lagos, Nigeria, Chinese-manufactured Zonsen motorcycles have gained wide popularity among local riders.

A large share of these vehicles comes from Chongqing Municipality in southwest China, a global hub for motorcycle production. According to customs authorities in Chongqing, the city exported over five million motorcycles in 2024, valued at 20.45 billion yuan (2.86 billion U.S. dollars), marking year-on-year increases of 22 percent in volume and 25.9 percent in value.

"In the first quarter of this year alone, we exported over 130,000 motorcycles worth nearly 90 million dollars," said Zhou Chun, international department manager at Zonsen Motorcycle. "Africa is one of our most important overseas markets."

Wang Jiang, executive secretary-general of the China-Africa Business Council, said that Africa's accelerating industrialization and growing consumer demand are turning the automotive and motorcycle sectors into pillars of China-Africa production capacity cooperation.

"There is immense potential for collaboration," Wang said. "Africa has the world's youngest labor force and rising urbanization demand, while China brings mature technology, manufacturing experience, and a strong industrial supply chain in areas like motorcycles and new energy vehicles."

During the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade held in May, firms from Nigeria, Rwanda and Kenya signed agreements worth 1.65 billion yuan with Chongqing enterprises. The deals covered motorcycle and automobile assembly as well as spare parts production.

According to a report by the International Energy Agency, Africa's electric vehicle market has experienced rapid growth in recent years. With expertise in both motorcycle and battery production, Chinese companies are playing a critical role in making electric motorcycles more accessible through affordable and reliable products.

"China serves as an inspiration for many African firms in the electric mobility sector," said Janos Bisasso, chief operating officer of Gogo Electric, a leading electric motorcycle manufacturer based in Uganda's capital, Kampala. The company imports lithium-ion batteries from China and assembles electric motorcycles tailored for the local market.

"We are closely monitoring the growth of the electric motorcycle market here and look forward to exploring it together with our African partners," said Wu Jun, Zonsen Motorcycle's sales manager for Africa.