August 24, 2004
With some of its production lines currently running 24 hours a day to keep up with growing demand, Kwang Yang Motor Co. (KYMCO), Taiwan's premier motorbike manufacturer, may be too busy to celebrate its fortieth anniversary. Founded with
NTD 10 million forty years ago, KYMCO started off as a representative for Japan's Honda and has grown up to become the king of motorbikes in Taiwan and to run its own manufacturing and sales operations overseas.
While it may be busy now, KYMCO is looking for even more business, with plans to set up an
R&D center here in 2005 and to further expand operations overseas.
The motorbike maker announced recently that it will invest hundreds of millions of NT dollars to establish a new
R&D and production center in Kaohsiung. Demonstrating KYMCO's commitment to the diversification of its product line, this center will initially focus on the development of all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and electric wheelchairs. Also, aiming to achieve an economy of scale, it plans to develop models that use general-use engines.
KYMCO currently runs manufacturing operations in Taiwan, China and Indonesia and has plans to set up plants in India and Vietnam within the next two years. It is also considering the possibility of investing in the southern part of Eastern Europe so as to position itself in the vicinity of one of its major overseas markets, Southern Europe.
New investments in the development of ATVs and electric vehicles and the release 250cc and larger motorbikes, combined with the appreciation of the euro, have led to a major growth in overseas sales for KYMCO over the last two years.
KYMCO has declared its determination to achieve its global expansion goals by the time it reaches its half century mark.
(United Daily News)
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