KYMCO to Launch High-powered E-scooters

Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. (KYMCO), the largest powered two-wheeler (PTW) manufacturer in domestic and export sales in Taiwan, recently announced to more aggressively tap the electric-scooter (e-scooter) market in Taiwan in 2011.

KYMCO plans to launch a 6KW high-powered e-scooter, the first to be commercialized in Taiwan, this year, aiming to get a head start in the new-energy vehicle market by outpacing major rival China Motor Corp. (CMC), which won a 60% share in the domestic e-scooter market in 2010 with its e-moving light e-scooter (under-1.5KW).

CMC, however, claimed that it will continue to launch the higher-power version of the e-moving in the second half of 2011.

The Taiwan government began subsidizing each e-scooter sold in Taiwan with a 100% commodity-tax reduction.

Some 5,139 e-scooters were sold in Taiwan in 2010, accounting for around 1% of the overall powered two-wheeler (PTW) sales volume on the island.

Ko Chun-bin, KYMCO's executive vice president, pointed out that in 2011 his company will launch both 3KW and 6KW high-powered e-scooters in Taiwan. Most e-scooter models currently sold in Taiwan are under-1.5KW, Ko added, and KYMCO's 3KW and 6KW models will have similar horsepower as 50cc and a 100cc gasoline-engine scooters.

The vice president also stressed that KYMCO's new e-scooters will have state-of-the-art styling to further expand market. Ko is also optimistic about the sales of e-scooters in Taiwan, adding that the Taiwan government will continue subsidizing e-scooter buyers to further raise penetration.