Auto Cooperation & Exchange Conference to Benefit Carmakers

Taipei, Nov. 20, 2009 (CENS)--Over 500 senior executives of major automotive-related enterprises in Taiwan and China will discuss future cooperation opportunities in the post-Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) year at the Conference on Cross-strait Cooperation and Exchange in the Automobile (including Battery Energy Storage) Industry, to be held December 23 to 25.

Taiwan is expected to utilize its advantages in the automotive-electronics industry to open the huge market in China at the event, industry insiders said.

Conference organizer Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (TTVMA) and Taiwan Automotive Research Consortium (TARC), an automotive R&D alliance established by four founding members: the Mechanical and System Research Laboratories (MSL) of Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Automotive Research and Testing Center (ARTC), the Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), and the Metal Industries Research and Development Center (MIRDC), as well as about 120 private suppliers and manufacturers, recently claimed that the conference would be ideal to show off the island's strength in new technologies and comprehensive supply chain for both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles.

Over 100 senior representatives from almost all major automakers in China will take part and visit several major first-tier auto-parts suppliers on the island, who have been eager to meet the VIPs from China.

Cheng Kuo-rong, chairman of TTVMA, stressed that Taiwan could play a major role in helping Chinese automakers jump onto the global stage quickly and more efficiently, for "Made in Taiwan" represents higher added-value.

Taiwan already owns some advantages in electric vehicle (EV) industry, Chen said, including strong capability in battery anode material, lithium-ion power cells and battery packs, electrical control, sever motors and assembled EVs. So, the chairman analyzed, one of the focal points in the cross-Strait automotive conference would be how to leverage Taiwan's advantages in EV line to achieve a win-win status for parties on the both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Industry insiders said that the Yulon Group of Taiwan, the largest carmaker on the island with commercialization-ready EVs, would be the greatest beneficiary after the conference, because Yulon can help Chinese partners immediately launch EV products with mature solutions.