Chongqing-Made Motorcycles Emerge as New Favorites in Overseas Premium Markets: Qiulong Technology Sells Nearly 50,000 Electric Off-Road Units Annually to Over 50 Countries

On February 4, at the off-road testing ground of Chongqing Qiulong Technology Co., Ltd. in Dadukou District, Chongqing, Mi Yan, head of the sales and operations department, stood beside two nearly identical electric off-road motorcycles with a test rider.

“The one on the left is our flagship product, the Light Bee. The one on the right is a counterfeit brought back from overseas,” Mi Yan said. During a comparison test moments earlier, the counterfeit overheated and activated its speed limiter after less than five minutes of climbing due to inferior algorithm design. In contrast, the Light Bee ran flawlessly for half an hour repeatedly tackling steep slopes.

“That’s the difference between an originator and an imitator,” Mi Yan remarked. Today, dozens of companies worldwide are imitating Qiulong’s products, but none have managed to catch up or surpass them. In 2025, Qiulong sold nearly 50,000 units, exporting to more than 50 countries and regions across the globe.

In the 1990s, Chongqing’s motorcycle industry suffered setbacks in Southeast Asia, gaining a reputation for “low-cost” products. Today, the new generation of Chongqing’s motorcycle manufacturers has transformed completely. Not only does the city produce one-third of the nation’s motorcycles, but it also exports in large volumes, becoming a new favorite in overseas premium markets.

Qiulong Technology is one such success story.

From “Creating Something from Nothing” to “Achieving the Perfect Balance”

Mi Yan joined Qiulong Technology in 2017.

At that time, the global motorcycle market was dominated by fuel-powered models, and even among them, off-road motorcycles—a niche category—were often too heavy, too noisy, and too demanding in terms of skill, discouraging many young enthusiasts who longed to experience the thrill of off-road riding.

Back then, Qiulong Technology, founded by three motorcycle enthusiasts, was just three years old. Their goal was singular: to create an off-road motorcycle as light as a mountain bike but with the power of a motorcycle.

“We wanted to be pioneers, creating something from nothing. That meant there were no precedents to follow, and every step was uncharted territory,” Mi Yan recalled. She remembered engineers in the lab discarding hundreds of prototypes just to reduce the weight by 100 grams. In 2017, Qiulong launched the Light Bee, a motorcycle weighing just 50 kilograms with the power of a 125cc engine. This unconventional machine, which resembled a cross between a bicycle and a motorcycle, quickly gained popularity in the European and American off-road motorcycle communities.

Image: On February 4, 2026, at Chongqing Qiulong Technology Co., Ltd., workers assemble complete motorcycles. Photo by reporter Li Yuheng.

Extreme sports influencers on platforms like YouTube hailed it as a “Game Changer.” The bike could be easily lifted by an adult, yet it handled steep climbs and high-altitude jumps with ease—truly remarkable.

“Because it’s so easy to operate, riders can quickly enjoy the thrill of off-road riding on complex terrains like mountain trails, rocky riverbeds, and more,” Mi Yan said with a smile. “That’s how the Light Bee quickly became a sensation in the off-road motorcycle communities of Europe and America.”

Image: On February 4, 2026, at Chongqing Qiulong Technology Co., Ltd., workers package electric off-road motorcycles for shipment. Photo by reporter Li Yuheng.

From “Setting the Standard” to “Global Rights Protection”

Many imitators view electric off-road motorcycles as simply mounting a motor and battery onto a frame. So they started copying.

But Mi Yan disagrees. “Qiulong has spent over a decade perfecting its core technologies through continuous iteration, optimization, and innovation. This can’t be surpassed by a few months of ‘fast-food-style’ imitation,” she said.

Qiulong’s self-developed controller performs tens of thousands of precise calculations per second, adjusting output curves in real-time based on road conditions, slope gradients, and motor temperature. Imitators, lacking a solid algorithmic foundation, often rely on brute-force output, which leads to overheating within minutes of climbing.

Image: On February 4, 2026, at Chongqing Qiulong Technology Co., Ltd., the assembly line is bustling. Photo by reporter Li Yuheng.

Moreover, achieving the right weight distribution is critical for off-road electric motorcycles. Through countless real-world crash tests, Qiulong found the optimal center of gravity for its motor, battery, and frame, allowing the Light Bee to glide effortlessly through forests.

In contrast, imitator models, with uneven weight distribution, often exhibit dangerous “head-shaking” when navigating complex terrain.

“What’s more important is the depth of experience,” Mi Yan said. Over the past decade, Qiulong has gathered riding data from extreme conditions worldwide, creating a feedback loop between real-world testing and data analysis, forming a “patent moat.”

These core technologies have also empowered Qiulong to confidently protect its intellectual property.

Between 2024 and 2025, as the Light Bee gained global popularity, counterfeit brands attempted to disrupt the market with low-priced knockoffs, even exporting products that infringed on Qiulong’s patents.

In response, Qiulong’s legal team launched cross-border patent disputes. “In the past, Chinese manufacturers feared being targeted when going global. Now, we’re using our original technologies to set the rules overseas,” Mi Yan said. She prints shipping documents daily, seeing each one as a testament to Chongqing’s “technological sovereignty.”

From “Mechanical World” to “Lifestyle Philosophy”

Leading technical specifications and a robust patent moat are just the basics.

Another key to Qiulong’s sustained leadership is the global “electric off-road motorcycle culture community” it has built.

Mi Yan opened her tablet, revealing images of a grassroots race in Japan, the muddy “Light Bee Cup” in Germany, and stunt gatherings in the deserts of North America.

By the end of 2025, over 150,000 loyal users worldwide had become part of this community. “Imitators can copy our parts, but they can’t replicate our global brand influence,” Mi Yan said.

“Qiulong’s success wouldn’t have been possible without Chongqing,” Mi Yan told reporters. The company’s technical leaders were trained in Chongqing’s traditional fuel motorcycle industry. Chongqing not only boasts the country’s most complete motorcycle supply chain but is also undergoing a transformation from “mechanical manufacturing” to “precision smart manufacturing.” This is Qiulong’s solid foundation.

Image: On February 4, 2026, at Chongqing Qiulong Technology Co., Ltd., a worker installs wiring for the electric control system of an electric off-road motorcycle. Photo by reporter Li Yuheng.

Today, any creative idea from Qiulong’s engineers can be turned into a tangible product using resources available within a few dozen kilometers.

Looking ahead to the new year, Mi Yan shared her aspirations: “In 2026, I want to work with my colleagues to further develop our global digital platform, ensuring that ‘Chongqing-made’ products go global not only quickly but also steadily and thoughtfully.”

As the sun set, Mi Yan packed up her laptop. On the testing ground behind her, test riders continued to leap into the air. On this track defined by Chongqing ingenuity, Mi Yan and her team galloped forward, racing toward an ever-brighter horizon.

Source: New Chongqing – Chongqing Daily
Image: On February 4, 2026, at Chongqing Qiulong Technology Co., Ltd., workers inspect and test newly assembled electric off-road motorcycles. Photo by reporter Li Yuheng.
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