(Yicai) Oct. 17 -- The second session of the twice-yearly China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair, has seen an increase in the number of electric motorcycles, with domestic manufacturers debuting several range-extended versions.

More than half of exhibitors have released electric motorcycles, featuring a variety of new technologies, including range-extended hybrid systems, high-capacity batteries, and swappable battery systems, Tang Fuxing, manager of Zhenghao Motorcycle's international trade department, told Yicai at the event.

The 138th Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou on Oct. 15 and runs through Nov. 4. The event has attracted more than 240,000 buyers from 218 countries and regions, with more than 32,000 firms displaying their latest products, according to the event's organizer.

The electrification trend in the motorcycle market is evident at this year's Canton Fair, Zhang Hongbo, secretary-general of the China Chamber of Commerce for Motorcycle, said to Yicai. There has been an increase in demand for electric models from customers in Africa, Southeast Asia, and certain regions of Europe, Zhang noted.

Governments in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have introduced favorable policies encouraging the transition of motorcycles from fuel to electricity, providing vast opportunities for Chinese products to expand overseas, Tang said. Many of Zhenghao's electric motorcycle customers are part of the "second generation" of traders, whose fathers were traditional fuel motorcycle dealers, she added.

The overseas success of Chinese companies is thanks to their precise understanding of the specific needs of various markets and their global leading advantages in supply chain support, according to Tang.

The hot climate in the Middle East and the long rainy season in Africa have led manufacturers to put significant effort into addressing electric motorcycles' waterproof and dustproof issues, Tang noted. In addition, considering the many islands and complex road conditions in these regions, firms are promoting products that utilize hybrid tech with an extended range to local customers, she pointed out.

According to Tang, Chinese companies will lead the future global electric motorcycle market, as "the entire industry is making efforts." Expanding overseas requires close collaboration among motorcycle manufacturers, battery makers, and charging station operators, and the level of industrial cooperation achieved in China is something that Japanese and Indian companies cannot keep up with, Tang said.

The United States' raising tariffs is prompting Chinese motorcycle manufacturers to shift their strategies and explore more alternative markets, Tang noted. "During the initial period when the US announced the tariff hike, we faced significant challenges in adjusting, but we have adapted."

Zhenghao's motorcycle includes two-wheeled, three-wheeled, and four-wheeled models. However, its golf carts are on the US government's anti-dumping list, facing a tariff of 245 percent.

Since shifting the market development focus to the Middle Eastern and South American markets several months ago, orders from the Middle East have started to come in, Tang pointed out.

Zhenghao has displayed two electric golf carts at the Canton Fair, priced at over USD4,000 for the basic model and more than USD5,000 for the high-end version.

The additional features in the high-end golf cart were specially designed for Middle Eastern clients, who typically wear long robes and enjoy singing, dancing, and entertainment, Tang said. They focus more on the enjoyment brought by the product's functions and are not concerned with additional expenses, she pointed out.

Editor: Martin Kadiev