While they’re not very visible in North America, Chinese motorcycles are still slowly conquering the world. Except now, they’re not necessarily made in China.
Taking a page from Indian manufacturer Hero’s playbook (who recently announced they were starting a satellite factory in Africa), Chinese manufacturer Shineray has announced they plan to start building motorcycles in Brazil this March. They’ve invested a significant amount of money in a factory they reckon can crank out 150,000 bikes a year in the South American factory.
First and foremost, this is probably an attempt to circumnavigate Brazil’s notorious motorcycle import taxes. However, it opens other interesting possibilities; if new motorcycle factories are opened in the Americas, it’s possible that new interesting import options could open up. Could designed-in-China, manufactured-in-South-America motorcycles one day come into Canada? In today’s global market, anything is possible.
I just tripped to send an email to the address on there web site and it was returned. The email was impexp@shineray.com
Correction tried
My boyfriend’s son just purchased this 2007 200cc. Vin# LXYPCML0270K26283. We have the certificate of orgin, we are in the process of obtaining the title. The past owner never pursued to obtain a title. I have looked on your web site and tried to click on drop box to put info about bike, but it wouldn’t let me. We are looking for a cover for the front sprocket. I have attached some pictures to give you an idea of what I am talking about. I have included the vin #. Please let me know if there is anything else you need. I have a few pictures of bike, sprocket and information plate on side of bike. Thanks
I think bikes manufacturer in China or other emerging markets have a lot of potential. They just need to have a company with a brand name stand behind them. As it is now, most of the Chinese bikes we get here are made by anonymous manufacturers and sold under disposable brand names, so the manufacturers and importers have little motivation to ensure they’re producing decent quality products, or to try and improve it. There’s nothing in particular about emerging markets that makes producing good quality product impossible – where they’re a will there’s a way. There just hasn’t been much will behind the ones we’ve gotten here so far.