Taiwanese Makers Roar Power and Style at INTERMOT Cologne 2010

The world's largest international trade fair for motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and light electric vehicles (LEVs), INTERMOT Cologne 2010 once again proved its influence in the industry from October 6-10 in Cologne, a major motorcycling city in Germany.

New technologies, materials, and manufacturing techniques were all highlighted on the show floor, with a raft of new vehicles featuring improvements in power, style, strength, safety, weight, environmentally friendliness, and ease of handling. In terms of pure visual appeal, the new models have also raised the bar.

Major Taiwanese plyaers, such as Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. (KYMCO) and Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd., as well as other famous names on the island, also showcased their latest products, which have been rapidly gaining increasing popularity in Europe with trendy styling and high quality, stability and durability.

KYMCO
KYMCO, the No. 1 powered-two-wheeler (PTW) manufacturer in Taiwan, unveiled several 2011 new models at the show. Jim Yang, marketing director of KYMCO's overseas sales division, said that in 2009, KYMCO exported more than 200,000 units, exceeding its domestic sales for the first time. In addition, KYMCO ranked second as PTW brand in Italy, the largest PTW market in Europe, with a market share of about 16%. In France, Yang added, KYMCO is the No. 5 or No. 6, while in Germany the Taiwanese nameplate is also one of the few leaders with a market share surpassing 10%.

The maker unveiled several new models with electronic fuel injection (EFI) systems, including the brand-new People GT 300i, Downtown 300 ABS, Agility Carry 50, and DJS 50. In the all terrain vehicle (ATV) segment, KYMCO revealed new-generation products, including the MXU 500i and MXU 450i.

The People GT 300i features several eye-catching specifications, among them a 298.9cc four-stroke engine (single cylinder, EFI), luxurious styling and high standards of comfort and safety. The outstanding styling design gives a new-classic look to the tall-wheel scooter.

The new MXU 500i DX has an upgraded passenger seat with an additional deluxe seat part and a moveable seat pad with comfortable back seat to comfortably transport two people. Also, decorative styling and 14-inch rims further highlight attention to quality.

The MXU 500i fully complies with all European standards and meets the high expectations from the increasingly sophisticated global ATV market. KYMCO claims that the MXU 500i has design features incorporating subtle yet instantly-recognizable cues of classic design: ribbed hood lines, characteristic wheel arch flairs, and ultra- modern diamond-style headlights, just some of the key features making the new ATV a unique concept.

To meet the needs of European riders, KYMCO launched the Agility Carry that is designed for commercial applications requiring heavier loads. Yang claimed that the Agility 50cc/125cc scooter is one of the most popular scooter models sold by KYMCO in Europe. The DJS 50, by comparison, is an in-city commuter model aimed at young consumers.

Yang claimed that though the overall PTW market in Europe is on a downtrend, KYMCO has been trying to upgrade its market shares by simultaneously targeting the mainstream (smaller displacement) and high-end (big-diplacement, luxury) segments.

"KYMCO has a strong advantage in producing good-quality, reasonably-price vehicles," Yang explained, "and we will continue to add to our product range with scooters and ATVs to further boost market shares," said Yang.

SYM
Major Taiwan PTW brand SYM has been aggressively exploring the European market since achieving success in Taiwan and Vietnam. Andy Huang, director in charge of the European market at the overseas marketing division of SYM, said that his company aims to provide products customized for different markets.

SYM showed several new products at the INTERMOT Cologne 2010, including the Maxsym 400i maxi-scooter, a mixture of power and artistic design that underscores SYM's technical prowess. According to SYM, the Maxsym is designed to provide a dynamic, safe, and comfortable ride in and out of the city.

In addition to its gorgeous curves, the Maxsym 400i delivers power to spare and an equally formidable brake system. Other features of SYM's 2011 mainstream machine include: dual projection headlights; headlamps with unique LED 'eyebrows'; and excellent ergonomics for comfortable long-distance riding.

The HD2 was also shown as is a new, stylish scooter with elegant and sporty tendencies, with a complete upgrade. The model represents a head-to-toe overhaul from the its predecessors, with an all-new vehicle-body design, dual headlights, and eye-catching taillight. Major features of the new model include: streamlined body shape (the arrow-shaped winkers, headlight on the front cover and Y-shaped decoration are perfectly balanced); a new EFI system and power-cut switch; and a classic-style dashboard featuring easy-to-read odometer and clock on the LCD panel display.

The Wolf SB125Ni has a street-smart styling that shows off the model's compact chassis and single-cylinder engine. The new bike handles nimbly and offers a highly comfortable ride. Other features include: an angular headlight, streamlined fuel cap, compact front-to-rear appearance enhanced by a short front fairing, short rear cowl with an LED taillight, long front fender to reduce mud splash, and an inner rear hugger to add value and functionality.

SYM also showcased two electric-scooter models, the Symmetry and E-woo. The former is an extremely compact e-scooter that nevertheless manages packs ample storage space (8L). Symmetry's LCD dashboard can show the remaining battery level, mileage and speed.

The light e-scooter, or e-moped, also provides a spacious 420mm x 300mm foot rest area.

The E-Woo is an eco-friendly scooter with a large-capacity lithim battery for sufficient mileage; a powerful 3.5Kw motor that can easily handle climbs and accleration; and a multi-functional LCD dashboard.

PGO
Motive Power Industry Co. Ltd. (PGO brand) unveiled several new products built with the company's strong technical capability. PGO is the No. 5 PTW brand in Taiwan (trailing KYMCO, SYM, Yamaha, and Suzuki), but it enjoys a high profile in Europe and the U.S.

C.T. Chen, chief engineer of the motorcycle R&D center at Motive Power, announced that his company has successfully developed a new 125cc water-cooled four-valve scooter engine that can generate 25% more horsepower than air-cooled counterparts, pushing the vehicle's maximum speed up to 105 kilometer per hour (kph).

The company's water-cooled engine, Chen explained, has a redesigned intake and exhaust to improve efficiency and a cooling small but high-efficiency radiator. The new engine also is designed so that the coolant passes through the cylinder in a vortex fashion to enable highly even heat-dissipation. In addition, the engine piston is made from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-approved materials for high durability and operational smoothness, making the new engine easily passed many 400-hour full-load operation tests.

PGO also demonstrated its latest hybrid scooter model, which the company sees as an interim product on the route to introducing a full-electric model.

Chen said that the hybrid model has a programmable motor driver self-developed by his company. The new model runs electrically at speeds up to 30 kph, gasoline/electric hybrid mode at speeds from 30 to 50 kph, and then under pure gas propulsion at speeds over 50 kph, with automatic power mode switching. Motive Power has registered several patents for its dual-system switching technology, Chen claimed.

SMC
Standard Motor Corp. (SMC), a major, veteran motorcycle and ATV manufacturer in Taiwan, showcased its most powerful ATV, the JUMBO 700 4x4 Utility ATV, at the Cologne show.

James Kuo, vice general manager of SMC, said that SMC cooperated with Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute over the past more than three years to develop the 700cc powertrain system used on the JUMBO 700 4X4, which is even more powerful than Yamaha's same-class counterparts. SMC's new 700cc engine can output 36.5kw (about 49.7hps), compared to 35kw (about 47.3 hps) delivered by Yamaha's 700cc bike. "Our 700cc new engine is the first ever engine model developed and made in Taiwan that can surpass Yamaha's," Kuo proudly claimed. In 2011, he added, SMC would also roll out an EFI version of the 700cc engine for new vehicle models.

The JUMBO 700 4X4 has many notable features, Kuo said, including an electronic differential lock, limited slip differential (LSD), a 24-liter fuel tank (the largest among 700cc ATVs), continuous variable transmission (CVT), and extraordinary handling. SMC poured a lot of money into developing the key parts and systems on this new vehicle.

Other new products from SMC include the CGV503 Sports Road Type ATV; the roomy CFF50 Family Big Size ATV; and the trendy and eco-friendly electric Mini e-Power ATV that is eco-friendly and safer.

Others
Other Taiwanese PTW makers promoting new products at the 2010 INTERMOT, including Her Chee Industrial Co., Ltd. (Adly), Hartford Industrial Co., Ltd., and Advance Power Investment Co., Ltd. (CECTEK).

Adly, a well-known nameplate in the Europe market for many years, unveiled a 600cc utility ATV model. In addition to its strong horsepower performance, the new vehicle features an eye-catching styling design, with embellishments like LED headlamps with eyelids. Her Chee Chairman C.C. Chen said that he seen orders return from European and American customers that had turned to low-cost makers in China in last two years, raising his optimism about future sales.

Hartford unveiled a 400cc street bike model, the largest-displacement model of its kind to be developed by a Taiwanese PTW company. Craig Wang, export manager at Hartford, pointed out that the model has been winning positive responses from customers worldwide.

CECTEK currently offers two major ATV series, the Gladiaor/Quadrift on-road and the Kingcobra/Estoc sport. The company has sold more than 2,000 units, many of them in Germany. Allan Yang, president of CECTEK, confirmed that his company is working on a new utility ATV model targeted at the top-end market. The bike is scheduled to hit the market by the end of the year. Yang said that 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.