Benelli: owner, models, markets and what the name means
Facts checked United States status as of 4 September 2026
- Private
- SZSE 000913
Listing: Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 14 May 1999, code 000913
Benelli was founded in Pesaro on the Adriatic coast in 1911 by Teresa Boni Benelli and her six sons, and is the second-oldest Italian motorcycle company still trading. It passed through Alejandro de Tomaso in 1971 and Andrea Merloni in 1995 before Qianjiang Motorcycle bought it in 2005.
Under Chinese ownership the marque has become a volume brand rather than a boutique one. Design and marketing stay in Pesaro; manufacturing is in Wenling. The range covers naked bikes such as the BN and 752S, sport models including the Tornado 550, the TRK adventure family, the Leoncino scramblers, scooters and electric bicycles. The TRK 502 was the best-selling motorcycle in Italy in 2020.
Benelli sells worldwide and is particularly strong in Italy and India, where machines are sold as Benelli Q.J. In the United States the brand is distributed by Keeway America, which became sole distributor in December 2023 with models arriving from the first quarter of 2024; the Tornado 550 reached US dealers in August 2026 at $5,999.
Italian marque owned since 2005 by Qianjiang Motorcycle of Wenling, Zhejiang, whose own largest shareholder is Geely Holding. Design and marketing remain in Pesaro; most machines are built in China.
Key facts
| Chinese name | 贝纳利 “bay-nah-LEE” no literal meaning; a Chinese transliteration of the Italian family name Benelli |
|---|---|
| Also written | Benelli Q.J. and Benelli QJ |
| Owner | Qianjiang Motorcycle |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Headquarters | Pesaro, Italy |
| Origin | Italy |
| Vehicles | Motorcycles |
| Segment | Motorcycle |
| United States | Sold in the United States — Distributed in the United States by Keeway America, which became sole distributor in December 2023 with models arriving in the first quarter of 2024. |
| Founded | 1911 in Pesaro, Italy, by Teresa Boni Benelli and her six sons |
| Chinese ownership | Bought by Qianjiang Motorcycle in 2005 |
| Where the bikes are made | Design and marketing in Pesaro; production in Wenling, Zhejiang |
| US distribution | Keeway America became sole US distributor in December 2023 |
| Best seller | The TRK 502 was the best-selling motorcycle in Italy in 2020 |
Who owns Benelli?
Li Shufu owns Geely Holding at 82.23% since 1986.
Li Shufu founded Geely Holding in 1986 and owns 82.233% of it directly; his son Li Xingxing holds 8.0583% and Ningbo Yima Enterprise Management Partnership 9.7087%, which Polestar's 2025 annual report summarises as Li Shufu owning about 91.9% directly or indirectly.
Geely Holding owns Qianjiang Motorcycle at 36.61% since September 2016.
Geely Holding became Qianjiang's largest shareholder in September 2016 with a stake of just under 30% and is recorded at 36.61% in later summaries. Qianjiang does not appear among the brands Geely Holding lists on its own corporate site.
Qianjiang Motorcycle owns Benelli at 100% since 2005.
Qianjiang acquired the Italian marque Benelli in 2005. Design and marketing stayed in Pesaro; production moved to Wenling.
The full ownership page for Benelli · Is Benelli Chinese?
Where Benelli is sold
Recorded in 4 market s: CN, Italy, India and United States. Where a company publishes only its principal markets, that is a floor and not a complete list.
| Country | Code | Market page |
|---|---|---|
| China | CN | no page yet |
| Italy | IT | Chinese cars in Italy |
| India | IN | Chinese cars in India |
| United States | US | Chinese cars in the United States |
Benelli: questions people ask
- Who owns Benelli?
- Qianjiang Motorcycle of Wenling, Zhejiang, which bought the marque in 2005. Qianjiang's own largest shareholder is Geely Holding, so Benelli sits under the same ultimate owner as Volvo Cars and Lotus.
- Are Benelli motorcycles made in Italy?
- Design and marketing are in Pesaro, but production is in China, at Qianjiang's Wenling plants.
- Is Benelli sold in the United States?
- Yes. Keeway America has been the sole US distributor since December 2023, with models on sale from early 2024.
- How old is Benelli?
- It was founded in 1911, making it the second-oldest Italian motorcycle firm still in business.
Related
Sources for Benelli
- Wikipedia, Benelli (motorcycles). Read .
- Powersports Business, Keeway America Now Distributes Benelli in U.S. as Sole Co-Owner. Read .
- Powersports Business, Benelli's New Middleweight Sportbike Tornado 550 Hits U.S. Dealerships. Read . Tornado 550 at $5,999 MSRP in US dealerships, August 2026.