Taiwan is maintaining its leadership of the global bicycle industry on the strength of its high-quality bikes and components employing the latest advances in such fields as electric, green and smart technologies.
Evidence of this dominance was on full display at Taipei International Cycle Show March 22-25 at Taipei World Trade Center’s Nangang Exhibition Hall and Exhibition Hall No. 1. Nearly 41,900 visitors, including 8,672 overseas buyers, got up close and personal with some of the latest and greatest Taiwan-made bikes and components at 3,340 booths operated by 1,115 firms.
President Tsai Ing-wen said during her March 22 opening address that the bike is the “pride of Taiwan.” She also pledged the government’s full support for the local bicycle industry so as to safeguard its sustainable development and ensure more people around the world can experience the beauty and quality of its products.
Taiwan boasts the world’s best bike R&D and manufacturing capacity, Tsai said, adding that although the domestic market is limited, industry output climbed to No. 2 in the world last year.
TICS organizer Taiwan External Trade Council (TAITRA) said the secret of the local industry’s global success lies in pursuing value-added technologies delivering greener, smarter and more user-friendly interfaces. This makes cycling easier and more convenient, as well as opens the door for significant advances in hot international trends like electric bikes, the trade promotion body under the MOEA added.
According to TAITRA, a shining example of such products is the
Liv Envie road bicycle made by Taichung City-headquartered Giant Manufacturing Co. The bike, which took center stage at TICS, is described by Giant founder King Liu as the fastest of its kind in the world.
Another reason for Taiwan’s powerful performance worldwide is the industry cluster in central Taiwan’s Changhua County and Taichung. Of Taiwan’s 734 bicycle-makers and 86 parts-makers, 77.8 percent are situated in the region.
According to TAITRA President and CEO Walter M. S. Yeh, Taiwan exported bicycles and parts to 105 countries worldwide in 2015. Taiwan is the No. 1 supplier of bicycle products in 15 of these destinations and made the top three list in 73. (OC-E)
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