Keeway: 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
Keeway was founded in Budapest in 1999 and built its business on scooters and small to mid-capacity motorcycles sold at accessible prices. Its own account of the name reads Key plus Way. From 2005 it set up a design office in Pesaro alongside Benelli, and the two brands have shared engineering ever since.
The brand belongs to the Qianjiang stable, and Keeway's own site describes a Keeway Group formed in 2022 that holds Benelli, the revived Italian marque Morbidelli acquired in April 2024, the electric brand EZI and the Chinese maker Benda. Keeway America is the group's United States arm and has been the sole US distributor of Benelli since December 2023.
The range is mostly scooters, cruisers such as the K-Light, and small-capacity roadsters, with occasional larger machines including the V302C V-twin developed with Benda in 2021. Keeway says it operates in more than 73 countries.
Hungarian-founded brand now run as part of Qianjiang's stable alongside Benelli and QJMotor. Keeway's own site describes a Keeway Group holding Benelli, Morbidelli, EZI Electric and Benda from 2024; we did not verify the date on which Qianjiang acquired the brand.
Key facts
| Chinese name | 凯威 “kigh-WAY” no literal meaning; a Chinese transliteration of Keeway, using 凯 'triumph' and 威 'prestige, power' |
|---|---|
| Also written | KEEWAY |
| Owner | Qianjiang Motorcycle |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Budapest, Hungary |
| Origin | Hungary |
| Vehicles | Motorcycles |
| Segment | Motorcycle |
| United States | Sold in the United States — Keeway America operates in the United States as the group's distribution arm and became sole US distributor of the sister brand Benelli in December 2023. We did not verify the size of the Keeway-badged US model range. |
| Official site | www.keeway.com/ |
| Founded | 1999 in Budapest, Hungary |
| Italian design office | Design headquarters in Pesaro, Italy, from 2005, alongside Benelli |
| Markets | The brand says it operates in more than 73 countries |
| Morbidelli | Keeway acquired the dormant Italian marque Morbidelli in April 2024 |
| Group position | Described by trade press as a division of the Qianjiang group, which also owns Benelli |
Who owns Keeway?
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 controls Keeway.
Keeway is described by trade press as a division of the Qianjiang group, which also owns Benelli. We did not find a dated record of the acquisition; Keeway's own site describes a Keeway Group formed in 2022 holding Benelli, Morbidelli, EZI Electric and Benda.
The full ownership page for Keeway · Is Keeway Chinese?
Where Keeway is sold
Recorded in 4 market s: CN, HU, Italy 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 |
| Hungary | HU | no page yet |
| Italy | IT | Chinese cars in Italy |
| United States | US | Chinese cars in the United States |
Keeway: questions people ask
- Is Keeway Chinese or Hungarian?
- Both, in different senses. The brand was founded in Budapest in 1999 and keeps a design office in Italy, but it belongs to the Chinese group Qianjiang and the machines are built in China.
- Who owns Keeway?
- Qianjiang Motorcycle of Wenling, Zhejiang, whose largest shareholder is Geely Holding. Keeway's own site describes a Keeway Group that also holds Benelli, Morbidelli, EZI Electric and Benda.
- What does Keeway make?
- Mostly scooters, small and mid-capacity motorcycles and cruisers, with a few larger machines such as the V302C V-twin developed with Benda.
Related
Sources for Keeway
- Keeway, About Us. Read .
- Powersports Business, Keeway acquires long dormant Italian motorcycle brand Morbidelli. Read . Describes Keeway as a division of Qianjiang Group, which also owns Benelli.
- Powersports Business, Keeway America Now Distributes Benelli in U.S. as Sole Co-Owner. Read .