The Armed Police rides in the 650G in the motorcade escorting Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete on October 21. Photo: Courtesy of CFMOTO

Domestic motorcycle maker CFMOTO came under the spotlight recently when its products were used in the motorcade escorting Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who started his six-day visit to China on October 21.

Eleven of CFMOTO's 650G motorcycles were used in the escort.

China had used motorcades to escort visiting dignitaries since the 1950s, but the practice was abolished in 2004.

As a result, the reappearance of the escort on October 21 drew a great deal of attention from the public, while the motorcycles used also caused quite a stir.

CFMOTO told the Global Times on Monday that it has delivered 100 motorcycles to the Chinese Armed Police Force, which is in charge of escorting visiting dignitaries.

China has been stepping up efforts to increase the use of homegrown auto brands among government officials. Kikwete rode in China's homegrown Hongqi sedan after he arrived in China.

CFMOTO beat among over 200 domestic motorcycle makers to get the order. Previously, however, national motorcade escorts were also open to foreign brands, such as Japan's Honda and Germany's BMW.

"More domestic auto brands in the government purchase list would boost their image as a whole," Beijing-based independent analyst Zhang Zhiyong told the Global Times on Monday.

Liu Xiaofang, a public relations officer at CFMOTO, said that this is not the first time the company's products have been included in government purchases. "We have been providing motorcycles to local governments in [Southwest China's] Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region," she told the Global Times on Monday.

CFMOTO has also recently rolled out a motorcycle model used for the fire brigade.

The 650G motorcycle is equipped with a system that enables direct communication with the command center and the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) to ensure safety.

Liu said that some Chinese elements have been included in the 650G's design. For example, the façade of the motorcycle resembles China's traditional stone lions, while red and yellow - the colors on China's national flag - are incorporated in the car's exterior.

The motorcycle can reach speeds of up to 177km/hour, and the company has registered 27 patents used in the 650G motorcycle, media reports said.

While the price of the motorcycle has not been disclosed yet, it could top 200,000 yuan ($32,717), Zhejiang-based newspaper Qianjiang Evening News reported on October 23, citing a company insider.

Growing market

Liu told the Global Times that the company will roll out a modified version of the G650 model for the general public.

Besides motorcycles, the Zhejiang-based company which was founded in 1989, also produces scooters, all terrain vehicles, utility vehicles and boats.

Its products are now exported to 60 countries and regions. "Around 70 percent of our products are exported," Liu said.

Annual sales of the company have now reached some $200 million and it employs about 1,000 people, according to Liu.

The market in developed economies for entertainment vehicles is very mature, but in China, it is still in its nascent stages, analysts said, and there are still some policy barriers. For instance, all-terrain vehicles are not allowed to get license plates in China.

But China's demand for entertainment vehicles, especially high-end motorcycles, are on the rise as more young Chinese are seeking fun and entertainment. Many motorcycle producers are also expanding their presence in China.

In July, Japan's Honda opened a dealership in Beijing and officially brought its NC750S motorcycle to the Chinese market. In April, it had already opened a dealer in Shanghai.

High-end motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson opened a training school for motorcycle enthusiasts in Southwest China's Chongqing in March this year, and the training program has been already launched in five cities in China, local newspaper Chongqing Economic Times reported in March.