Kwang Yang begins exporting four-wheel electric scooters

Taipei, April 22, 2003 (CENS)--Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. Recently announced that it would start exporting its first four-wheel electric scooters to the United States and Europe this month.

The company expects this year to export over 3,000 of the electric scooters, which are designed for seniors and handicapped people. Kwang Yang (KYMCO brand) is one of the top-two powered two-wheeler (PTW) makers in Taiwan.

Kwang Yang's new four-wheel electric scooter has a lead-acid battery pack, maximum speed of 6.4 kilometers per hour, and top cruising range of about 35 kilometers.

According to industry sources, most major local PTW makers have been diversifying into the production of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and electric scooters in order to offset stagnant growth in their core business. Those companies include Kwang Yang, Tailing Motor Co. Ltd. (in cooperation with Suzuki Motor Co. of Japan) and Her Chee Industrial Co., Ltd.

Electric scooters for elderly and disabled people has been a focal product for local PTW makers since such products command relatively high margins, though also have a high technical threshold.

One industry insider said that about 500,000 such scooters were sold worldwide last year, and the figure is expected to jump to about 1.2 million units in 2010. Though intensifying competition has pulled down profits on four-wheeled electric scooters, such products still command higher margins than traditional PTWs, the source said.

Kwang Yang officials claim that the company can rapidly expand production capacity to meet growing demand for the new electric scooters. They also noted that their company would demonstrate several new models.

Kwang Yang is also expanding its ATV business. The company last year introduced a 150cc ATV for the U.S. market and has since enjoyed strong exports of the model. It plans to unveil a series of 50cc to 150cc ATV models this year. Kwang Yang said its ATV sales to other markets have also been strong in the past few months.

Her Chee recently announced that it would tap the four-wheel or three-wheel electric scooter market and roll out recreational electric vehicles by the end of the year.