This Day, That Year

Item from Dec 26, 1992, in China Daily: Following the lead of the Japanese motorcycle giants, other overseas motorcycle companies are also looking for opportunities to invest in China.

Japan’s Honda and Yamaha launched joint ventures with Chinese businesses earlier this month, and Suzuki is currently negotiating to set up a joint venture.

Although domestic motorcycle manufacturers have seen a decline in market share, imports of motorbikes have increased steadily in recent years.

About 16.8 million motorcycles were sold nationwide last year, down about 11 percent than the previous year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The market has great potential as motorbikes gain popularity for recreation, especially among the growing middle class, analysts said.

High-end motorbike makers are bringing more of their models to the country.

Italian premium motorcycle maker Ducati plans to more than double the number of dealerships in the country this year.

The United States motorcycle manufacturer HarleyDavidson entered the Chinese mainland in 2006. Its Street 750 model was introduced to China in 2015.

However, the policy environment is not suitable for motorbike makers, because cities such as Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, have banned them to control traffic congestion.

Many local manufacturers have began to look for new growth opportunities.

In 2005, Chongqing Lifan Group started automobile production.