Taiwanese exhibitors impressed global buyers with a slate of innovative products at the 2008 INTERMOT Cologne, one of the world's top-three motorcycle and scooter shows. Assembled vehicles, parts, accessories, and even a new industrial standard were on display at the Taiwan booths, offering a glimpse at the rapid progress made by manufacturers in the island's powered two-wheeler (PTW) industry...

Pierangelo Andreani, an internationally known Italian who has been designing transportation equipment for over 40 years, generously shared his views on trends in powered two-wheeler (PTW) design, especially in the European market, during a recent visit to Taiwan. Andreani works with cars, motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles, as well as boats. He joined the global car-design firm Pinifarina S.P...

If there was any doubt that a green revolution is gathering force in the motorcycle and scooter sectors, 2008 INTERMOT Cologne put it to rest. Electric vehicles were the star attractions at the world's third-biggest motorcycle and scooter show, which ran from October 8 to 10. While pump prices are falling, electric powered two-wheelers (PTWs) have been riding the momentum of eco-friendly senti...

Motorcycle makers in Taiwan have been forced to brainstorm, besides relying on filling OEM orders in rosier times, to come up with creative ways to effectively compete in the increasingly harsh global arena, especially with players in emerging economies ready to reduce costs and margins to paper-thin levels. One recent example of the local makers' innovative attempt is the prototype RoboSooter, a...

Charles Huang, executive director of the Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (TTVMA) and chairman of the Motorcycle Safety and Development Association, has a clear vision for the more vigorous development of the motorcycle industry in Taiwan. During a recent interview conducted by the Taiwan Motorcycle Guide (TMG) magazine, Huang emphasized that the most important issues f...

Two PGO-brand vehicles produced by the Motive Power Industry Co. won prizes in the 2008 Taiwan Excellence Awards organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, proving once again the company's product development prowess and the quality of its vehicles. Motive Power has now won Taiwan Excellence prizes for six years in a row. In fact, all of the products it has entered in the competition have...

Leonardo Caputo, executive vice president of Piaggio Group, the largest powered two-wheeler (PTW) conglomerate in Europe, spoke in detail on the topic "Piaggio Group, the Asian Challenge" during the 3rd Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2008) show held early April this year in Taipei, with the extensive presentation focusing on three major themes: the Piaggio Group ...

Some 20 years ago, Nova Design Co., Ltd., spun off from the local Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd. (maker of SYM branded PTWs in Taiwan) had begun trying to wean itself from the technical dominance wielded by its Japanese partner-aiming to set up its own brand. Nova has since been the major vehicle-styling design studio for SYM and its affiliates. SYM is today one of the top-two globalized PTW bran...

The 3rd Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2008), held April 9-12 in Taipei, undoubtedly left visitors with one major impression-that all terrain vehicles (ATV) made or developed in Taiwan are equal in quality to those made by leading global brands. In short, Taiwan ATV makers are capable of turning out ATVs featuring world-class horsepower and equipment. The qu...

The 3rd Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2008) held from April 9-12 in Taipei once again proved it has plenty of horsepower to spare. This year the event went into overdrive, with the number of exhibition booths surging by 30% over the previous event. Over one thousand international buyers and more than 20,000 local visitors turned out for the four-day show, accord...