CFMOTO deepens global push with Brembo partnership

CFMOTO, one of China's largest motorcycle and powersports manufacturers, is strengthening its global expansion strategy through a partnership with Brembo, a global leader in braking technology based in Italy, as the company seeks to evolve from an exporter of finished products into a high-performance producer with international engineering capabilities.

The companies signed a long-term strategic cooperation agreement in July, establishing a joint research and development framework that goes beyond a traditional supplier relationship. Under the agreement, Brembo will be involved in CFMOTO's vehicle development process, including brake system design, engineering integration and performance calibration.

"Establishing a long-term strategic partnership with Brembo will further strengthen CFMOTO's competitiveness and brand presence in global markets," Chen Zhiyong, vice-president of CFMOTO, said.

The agreement comes as Chinese motorcycle manufacturers seek to move higher in the value chain by combining domestic manufacturing scale with global technology partnerships. For CFMOTO, the collaboration is aimed at reinforcing its premium positioning and accelerating overseas growth.

The Hangzhou-based company has increasingly used motorsports as a technology development platform. CFMOTO has secured championships and Grand Prix victories in the Moto3 and Moto2 categories over the past three MotoGP seasons, while Brembo supplies customized braking solutions and technologies across the MotoGP grid.

"Track technology represents an earlier, more advanced application of civilian technology," Chen said.

CFMOTO said data gathered from racing environments — including engine performance, chassis setup and rider feedback — is being transferred into its production motorcycles. The partnership with Brembo is expected to further enhance the braking performance of consumer models by applying racing-derived technologies to mass-market products.

Behind the company's technology push is a sustained increase in research investment. CFMOTO said its R&D spending reached 1.22 billion yuan ($180.3 million) in 2025, accounting for 6.18 percent of revenue, about twice the industry average of roughly 3 percent.

The company employs 1,748 R&D personnel, representing about 20 percent of its workforce, and filed 337 new patents in 2025, including 100 invention patents, as it expands development in engines, electronics and intelligent vehicle systems.

CFMOTO is also accelerating its move into smart mobility through its electric motorcycle brand ZEEHO, which has introduced advanced features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and security functions. The company is positioning electric motorcycles as part of a broader connected-mobility ecosystem.

The strategy is already translating into international growth. CFMOTO operates about 9,000 retail terminals worldwide, and reported revenue of 19.75 billion yuan in 2025, an increase of 31.3 percent from a year earlier. Overseas markets accounted for nearly 70 percent of sales.

Chen said the Brembo partnership is structured as a mutually beneficial collaboration rather than a one-way technology transfer.

"The partnership allows Brembo to tap into a larger market share," he said.

CFMOTO plans to continue expanding its core brand in the mid-to-high-end internal combustion engine motorcycle market, while using its CFLITE brand to enter emerging markets and ZEEHO to grow its electric two-wheeler business.

ZEEHO has emerged as a key growth driver. Sales volume reached 551,200 units in 2025, while revenue rose 381.03 percent year-on-year to 1.91 billion yuan, according to company data.

Andrea Paganessi, motorcycle chief officer of Brembo NV, said the company aims to become a long-term technology partner for CFMOTO.

"Through our technical expertise and high-performance solutions, we aim to be a trusted long-term partner for CFMOTO and to contribute to the evolution of premium motorcycle standards," Paganessi said.