Taiwan Motorcycle Show Highlights Latest Offerings
2010/09/24 | By Quincy LiangThe 2010 Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan), the largest annual event for the island's powered two-wheeler (PTW) industry, is a perfect platform for showing off the new offerings of the islands' manufacturers.
There was no significant growth in the size of this year's event, thanks to a lack of enthusiasm by local producers and PTW importers, though the number of parts and accessories makers saw a slight increase.
Industry insiders point out that there are more than 10 assemblers in Taiwan producing high-quality, reasonably-priced PTWs, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), and utility vehicles (UTVs). In recent years, Made-in-Taiwan powersports products have been winning increasing popularity due to an improved image for quality and reliability that are much better than those offered by products from low-cost countries.
Almost all of the major Taiwanese PTW makers attend big international PTW shows around the world, especially Dealer Expo in the United States, EICMA in Italy, and INTERMOT Cologne in Germany, where they spend a lot of money on expansive booths and decorations every year. Only a few of them, however, want to take part in the local motorcycle show.
Some PTW makers say that the local event (which was held for the fifth time this year) is still too small to attract international attention, so they would rather spend more effort on major international shows. Some local industry leaders with vision, however, stress that a good international trade fair is a key factor in the healthy and long-term growth of an industry, because it provides the best one-stop-shopping platform for global buyers who come expecting a good show where they can learn a lot in just a few days.
More and more local people hope that domestic PTW companies will take part in the annual trade show, thereby forming a collective force for the marketing of Taiwan's world-class PTWs, parts, and accessories. They urge the organizer, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), and the government to cooperate with other international fairs and provide more incentives for participation.
Despite the somewhat disappointing turnout this year, there were still many attractive vehicles on display at the show. In general, the local PTW industry is on a progressive trend that is helping local makers escape price-cutting competition from low-cost countries as well as catch up with counterparts in the industrially advanced nations in terms of product function and attractiveness.
A good example is Taiwan Golden Bee (TGB), one of the island's oldest scooter manufacturers and now a globally competitive developer and producer of scooters and ATVs as well as premium-quality continuous variable transmission (CVT) systems and parts with industry-leading technology.
"TGB is dedicated to fulfilling its core values of passion, quality, and customer satisfaction as it penetrates further into the international market," commented TGB president George Lin. "Having already taken France by storm (our product was named "ATV of the Year" by the French magazine QUAD in 2007), TGB is now setting its sights firmly on the American powersports market."
Before developing any new product or offering any new service, Lin stressed, TGB will conduct a market survey using tradeshows, the Internet, face-to-face interviews, questionnaires, and professional powersports magazines to collect comprehensive market information in order to find out what the customer wants, with a special focus on European and American markets. This allows TGB to offer the products and services that customers want.
"Another element in the core competitiveness of TGB," Lin added, "is our 5P+2S (Product, Price, Promotion, Place, Payment, After Service and Spare Parts) approach to the development of new markets. Using this approach, we offer individual products that fit customers' demands for high quality and competitive cost. That is why TGB can develop very good ATV products and compile great sales records in Europe in competition with other big international companies."
Advance Power Investment Co. (CECTEK) is a member of the Yulon Group, the largest automobile manufacturing conglomerate in Taiwan, and is working aggressively to extend Yulon's business into the on/off-road ATV market.
At this year's show, CECTEK proudly proclaimed that its CECTEK Gladiator 500cc ATV had set a new world record for ATVs by being ridden 20,000 kilometers from Cologne in Germany to Cape Town in South Africa. The record attempt was dubbed "QuadridesAfrica"; the rider was Jorg Schnorr, a 44-year-old German business coach.
The Gladiator is powered by a 500cc engine, specifically developed for ATVs, featuring a low center of gravity and a powerful and reliable electronic fuel injection (EFI) system. A gear-driven crankshaft balancer and especially-designed engine mounts reduce vibration. According to CECTEK, the largest automotive-engine developer and producer in Taiwan, the ATV engine has a maximum torque of 4.4kg-m at 4,500rpm.
The maximum speed of the vehicle is of 100kph, the highest of all the world's ATVs in the 500cc-600cc range.
Allan Yang, president of CECTEK, said that the unique designs of the company's Ultra-secure Chassis System (UCS) and Four-way Drive Selection System give riders perfect balance along with extreme maneuverability and stability. The patented knob shift selector brings riders the convenience of gear selection together with the attractiveness of modern styling.
"We have a clear positioning at the top of the market pyramid," Yang commented. "Each of our ATVs is equipped with top-end front and rear differentials, automobile-like chassis, and high-performance EFI engine. All of our models are on-road versions featuring low center of gravity, safety, and the highest riding comfort. We develop all of the key systems for our ATVs, which set examples that force Taiwan's other ATV makers to speed up their product development."
Sanyang Industry Co. (using the SYM brand), another major Taiwanese PTW maker, showcased products for both the domestic and export markets at the show.
One of the focal points in SYM's product list for the European market is the Citycom.300i. The Citycom is a high-wheel cruiser that conquers all road conditions in and out of the city. Its luggage box is big enough to hold two helmets, and its 16-inch tires offer the greatest comfort and stability when shuttling around the city. The sporty dual headlights have an eye-catching design and provide optimum visibility for safety.
Other features of the new model include a futuristic digital instrument panel with speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and other functions to promote a modern image; the biggest luggage box in its class; dual taillights; and dual-carrier design.
Another SYM model on display at the show was the GTS 300i EVO, an upgraded version of the highly successful GTS 250 with twin headlights.
The GTS 300i EVO won the Taiwan Excellence Gold Award this year, the first winner ever from the transportation vehicle industry. This model offers 125cc and 250cc (EFI) versions. Among its notable features are a distinctive patented design, a high-strength and lightweight structure with a front mainframe employing a single tube instead of the traditional double tube; a two-stage crankshaft oil duct for improved oil cleanliness; a cam chain setting plate design; a patented front fog-light design, the first of its kind in the world; LED daytime running lights (widely popular among Europeans); an eco-friendly design; and an active safety design with auto power-off and combination brake system.
SYM also displayed a number of models (most with engine displacements under 150cc) produced by its mainland Chinese factory for export. Company officials claimed that the quality of these models is good enough to meet the requirements of European customers.
The National Motor Co., a Taiwan-based powersports product maker with production facilities in mainland China, is striving to find a new way to product diversification from its line of ATVs, jet-skis, and go-karts. The company itself develops vehicle styling, and uses engines supplied by Suzuki of Japan.
By cooperating with a highly experienced foreign vehicle designer, National Motor developed and recently introduced a high-quality street bike, the Knight 350, powered by a 343cc Suzuki engine (EFI) and using a five-speed transmission.
A senior National Motor official noted that Taiwan-made powersports products have been gaining trust among consumers all over the world for their quality and durability, creating space for the island's suppliers in the bigger-displacement market. As the great majority of local PTW makers choose to focus on the production of scooters and ATVs, he added, his own company decided to find its own way in the heavy-duty motorcycle sector by leveraging resources accumulated over the past.
Industry sources point out that Taiwanese companies have not enjoyed much success in the high-performance motorcycle market, so the Knight 350 can be deemed as a benchmark for local players.
The company's maxi and high-wheel scooter models feature styling that is expected to attract European consumers, and its latest Co-in light scooter sports a simplified, cubic-concept design. Aeon said that the new model might be marketed in Taiwan as well as exported. (June 2010)
