Sanyang demonstrates new ceramic engine

Taipei, April 18, 2003 (CENS)--Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd., maker of the SYM brand scooters and motorcycles, recently demonstrated its second-generation ceramic engine for powered two-wheelers (PTWs).

The company said that the new engines would come with a life-long guarantee and help Sanyang reclaim the top position in the domestic PTW market this year.

Sanyang is the only company in Taiwan to develop ceramic PTW engines. Last year, the company began using the ceramic engines on all of its 100cc-plus PTW models, and extended the engine guarantee to three or five years from one year before. This year, Sanyang will beat its domestic rivals to market with 50cc scooter models with ceramic engines.

Industry sources said that Sanyang's life-long engine guarantee strategy would force other scooter makers in Taiwan to extend their guarantee period. Currently, Sanyang's major rivals Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. (KYMCO brand) and Yamaha Motor Taiwan Co. provide a five-year and a two-year mileage-unlimited guarantee for their ceramic engine PTW models, respectively.

Sanyang president Huang Kuan-wu said that his company's PTW sales grew by 7.6% last year, the highest among local rivals. Sales surged by 14% in the first quarter this year, much higher that the average 9.7% of the overall market during the same period.

Huang added that the life-long guarantee would also increase the re-sale value of SYM PTWs and expand sales of new PTWs. Sanyang has elevated its annual sales goal to 220,000 PTWs this year, from the previously set goal of 200,000 units.


Sanyang marketing vice president Chou Ken-yuan said that his company has the strongest engine development capability in the island and is a local pioneer in introducing four-valve, fuel-injection and ceramic engines. Sanyang is also the only company in Taiwan capable of making ceramic engines without foreign technology.

Chou said that the second-generation ceramic PTW engine has a new-formula ceramic electroplated layer on the cylinder wall, improving durability by at least 20% over the previous model. The new formula can also elevate an engine's resistance to high temperatures and ability to dissipate heat, improving horsepower and prolonging the engine's life span. Moreover, Sanyang's new ceramic engines have one-piece cylinder heads, which can also boost horsepower the durability.

Chou said that Sanyang will equip all of its 50cc to 150cc scooters with the second-generation ceramic engines soon. Sanyang will organize a promotional event in mid-May, during which college students will be allowed to drive the second-generation ceramic models up several tall mountains in Taiwan.