Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced its Transpacific service starting from February 2025 which will deploy 16 core weekly services “The emphasis will be on quality end-to-end direct services with high schedule reliability The core products will include sufficient sea speed buffers and are designed so that the impact of Hapag's departure in 2025 will have a minimal impact on ONE's network and customers over the post-CNY disengagement period,” Jeremy Nixon The Transpacific product consists of 16 main services: FP1 (Far East – Pacific 1): From Europe - Singapore - Kobe – Nagoya – Tokyo – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Tokyo – Shimizu – Kobe – Nagoya – Tokyo – Singapore – To Europe PS3 (Pacific South 3): Nhava Sheva – Pipavav – Colombo – Port Kelang – Singapore – Cai Mep – Haiphong – Yantian – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Tokyo – Pusan – Shanghai (Waigaoqiao) – Ningbo – Shekou – Singapore – Port Kelang – Nhava Sheva PS4 (Pacific South 4): Xiamen – Yantian – Kaohsiung – Keelung – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Keelung – Kaohsiung – Xiamen PS6 (Pacific South 6): Qingdao – Ningbo – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Kobe – Qingdao PS7 (Pacific South 7): Singapore – Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – Shanghai (Yangshan) – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Shanghai (Yangshan) – Singapore PS8 (Pacific South 8): Shanghai (Yangshan) – Ningbo – Kwangyang – Pusan – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Pusan – Kwangyang – Incheon – Shanghai (Yangshan) AP1 (Asia Pacific 1): Haiphong – Cai Mep – Shekou – Xiamen – Taipei – Ningbo – Shanghai (Yangshan) – Los Angeles/Long Beach – Oakland – Shekou – Haiphong AHX (Asia Hawaii Express): Pusan – Yokohama – Honolulu – PusanAsia - US West Coast North PN1 (Pacific North 1): Xiamen – Kaohsiung – Ningbo – Nagoya – Tokyo – Tacoma – Vancouver – Tokyo – Kobe – Nagoya – Xiamen PN2 (Pacific North 2): Singapore – Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – Haiphong – Yantian –Vancouver – Tacoma – Tokyo – Kobe –Shanghai (Yangshan) – Singapore PN3 (Pacific North 3): Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai (Yangshan) – Pusan –Vancouver – Tacoma – Pusan – QingdaoAsia - US East Coast EC1 (US East Coast 1): Kaohsiung – Yantian – Shanghai (Yangshan) – Ningbo – Pusan – (Panama) - New York – Norfolk – Savannah – (Panama) – Balboa – Kaohsiung EC2 (US East Coast 2): Xiamen – Yantian – Ningbo – Shanghai (Yangshan) – Pusan – (Panama) – Manzanillo – Savannah – Charleston – Wilmington – Norfolk – Manzanillo – (Panama) – Pusan – Xiamen EC5 (US East Coast 5): Laem Chabang – Cai Mep – Singapore – Colombo – (Suez) – Halifax – New York – Savannah – Jacksonville – Charleston – Norfolk – New York – Halifax – (Suez) – Singapore – Laem Chabang EC6 (US East Coast 6): Kaohsiung – Hong Kong – Yantian – Ningbo – Shanghai (Yangshan) – Pusan – (Panama) - Houston – Mobile – (Panama) – Rodman – Kaohsiung WIN (West India North America): Bin Qasim – Hazira – Nhava Sheva – Mundra – Damietta – Algeciras – New York – Savannah – Jacksonville – Charleston – Norfolk – Damietta – Jeddah – Bin Qasim The Israeli military said it carried out airstrikes against Yemen's Hodeidah Port on Monday The US Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has released the U.S Port State Control Annual Report for 2024… Incat Hull 096 – the world’s largest battery-electric ship – has been officially launched in Tasmania The offshore rig market recovery appears to have taken a pause with demand tapering off and marketed utilization hitting… we excel in creating stunning illuminated yacht names and logos and cutting-edge LED and fiber optic solutions Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service delivered to your Email five times per week which sells gas-powered scooters under the brand KYMCO yesterday said it is “seriously” studying the feasibility of spinning off its electric scooter unit as a prelude to an initial public offering (IPO) to raise its brand equity worldwide and facilitate its recruitment of top talent but the company is likely to spin off its electric scooter division for an IPO,” Kwang Yang chairman Allen Ko (柯勝峰) said during an interview with a small group of reporters in Taipei “We might follow the model of Harley-Davidson Inc which is to spin off its electric-motorcycle unit the company has a long history in making gas-fueled scooters Kwang Yang has built a strong presence in the nation’s scooter market with a market share of more than 30 percent Kwang Yang’s new electric scooter business would have greater flexibility and agility in crafting its expansion plans If the unit is separated from Kwang Yang and is publicly listed it would find it easier to attract top talent and raise its brand awareness worldwide As the company aims to transform itself into the world’s top electric two-wheeler supplier as foreign investors are more willing to assign attractive valuations to start-ups It would not happen overnight as it usually takes several years to plan for an IPO Kwang Yang’s priority is to expand its global footprint which are the world’s top three scooter markets “It is crucial to build a foothold while the electric scooter market is still in its infancy if we want to be an industry leader,” Ko said Harley-Davidson plans to list its LiveWire division publicly through a merger with AEA-Bridges Impact Corp Kwang Yang and KYMCO Capital (金庫資本) are to make a combined US$100 million investment in LiveWire Kwang Yang expects its partnership with Harley-Davidson to bear fruit in the next two to three years That meant new electric two-wheelers made via a jointly developed platform would be available in the next few years Taiwan’s TS Lines (TSL) — predominant on Asian trades — is looking to raise its market profile in India with extra loaders refocusing from its traditional target markets non-stop ad-hoc sailing from West India to the US west coast The TS Kwangyang has an ETA of 5 October at Nhava Sheva port and TSL India sales executives believe the vessel’s arrival will drum up sufficient shipper support for a full-ship sailing As spot freight rates on the transpacific trade continue to weaken The 90-day tariff moratorium on US imports ** EDITED AT 17:19 BST ON 09/04/25 TO INCLUDE COMMENT FROM ATLAS AIR Pacific International Lines (PIL) has chartered one of its ships to Hapag-Lloyd for three years Seven regional container lines have banded together to enter the Mexican market Taiwanese and South Korean liner operators are likely to be those least impacted by the .. About 1.29m teu of ocean capacity – equivalent to 17% of the containerships calling at .. Yang Ming management expects oversupply concerns to ease this year as detours round the Cape .. email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Kymco chairman Allen Ko; credit: DIGITIMES Kwang Yang Motor (KYMCO) aims to surpass Gogoro to become the largest electric scooter (e-scooter) vendor in the Taiwan market in 2024 Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot Get the most important global markets news at your fingertips with a Bloomberg.com subscription Burns Logistics CEO Ed Burns wanted to provide a way to allow small carriers to create relationships with shippers that typically shy away from brokers Shippers are increasingly seeking so-called mini-bid contracts to bridge a transitioning market reflected by carriers cutting capacity With a “reintroduced” ground freight shipping option UPS hopes to tempt LTL shippers seeking alternatives to LTL rates that are up 12% on average from mid-2023 Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Pacific International Lines (PIL) has announced the launch of its intermodal service in South Korea Rail and truck services are provided by PIL for customers who wish to transport their cargoes inland into Korea from Pusan The inland connection to Pugok is via rail service while for Gunsan South West Africa Container Services (SWS) and West Coast South America 6 (WS6) PIL’s Intermodal Service is available in Africa READ: PIL resumes call to Zanzibar This announcement comes a week after PIL, KPI OceanConnect, and Bunker One announced the completion of their first live electronic marine fuel inventory statement for an overseas delivery through the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex) DP World is set to implement OneStop Modal and the OneStop Vehicle Booking System (VBS) The US House of Representatives has voted to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) 2023 global schedule reliability surged to 57.5 per cent Container throughput at the Port of Melbourne totalled 267,000 TEUs in March 2025 Cover image: ©Associated Press The death toll has risen to at least 70 which sells its products under the brandname KYMCO yesterday unveiled a new electric sport scooter The F9 is the first electric scooter designed by the company from scratch The nation’s biggest manufacturer of gas-powered scooters Kwang Yang ventured into electric scooters about three years ago by remaking its gas-powered “Many” and “Nice” series into electric ones the focus was mostly on its battery charging system “KYMCO’s all-new F9 model offers not only urban mobility but also satisfies riders’ desire for a better steering experience,” company chairman Allen Ko (柯勝峰) told a global conference in Taipei The one-seat electric scooter performs better than a 150cc scooter adding that most electric scooters sold on the local market are 125cc models The F9 is scheduled to hit the market next year is to enter mass production at a factory in Italy Kwang Yang unveiled the concept vehicle at the Milan Motorcycle Show last year targeting the global electric motorcycle market Aside from those two high-performance electric two-wheelers Kwang Yang CEO Ko Chun-ping (柯俊斌) said the company is to roll out new electric scooters for the mainstream market in the near future The company also unveiled two new gas-powered motorcycles and one gas-powered scooter Thanks to tax incentives and purchase subsidies Kwang Yang expects the domestic scooter market to rise 12.2 percent year-on-year to hit a 25-year high of 1.01 million units this year The COVID-19 outbreak has also stimulated demand as people try to avoid mass transportation to reduce risks of contracting the virus “Government tax incentives and subsidies are the biggest drivers behind the growth,” Ko said “Our shipments are capped by limited capacity This year’s growth has greatly exceeded our expectations.” As the Environmental Protection Administration is to stop subsidies for gas-powered scooters that meet its Phase 7 emissions standards from January Ko said that scooter sales are expected to shrink by between 5 and 10 percent to between 900,000 and 950,000 units next year Kwang Yang expects its market share to climb to 34 percent this year from last year’s 33.4 percent Gogoro yesterday announced that China Motor Corp (中華汽車) is to join the “Powered by Gogoro Network,” making it the fifth member of the network China Motor is to offer new electric scooters under the company’s “eMoving” series that are equipped with batteries that riders can either recharge or swap for new ones Kwang Yang Motor Co (光陽工業) yesterday said it has invested more than NT$40 million (US$1.44 million) into its battery subscription service to boost availability as electric scooters gain popularity in Taiwan Kwang Yang expects that more than 50 percent of people who own its electric scooters would be active users of the service in the initial stage chief operating officer of Ionex Taiwan Co (台灣光捷) said on the sidelines of the service launch in Taipei Ionex is a fully owned electric scooter subsidiary of Kwang Yang the nation’s biggest gasoline-powered scooter manufacturer Kwang Yang has built a team with 50 employees to offer the battery on demand service owners of Kwang Yang Ionex 3.0 electric scooters would receive a fully charged battery replacement overnight the company has set up its first battery operation center in New Taipei City where Kwang Yang recharges batteries using green energy entirely “We want to offer diverse battery swapping options other than battery swapping stations The new battery subscription service is not a replacement of any battery sources,” Wu said “We will not stop deploying battery swapping stations.” Kwang Yang has to date built 420 battery swapping stations lagging behind its schedule as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions slowed its progress The company yesterday revised its target and said it aims to build 1,000 stations by the end of this year It is in talks with convenience store chain operators President Chain Store Corp (統一超商) and Hi-Life International Co Ltd (萊爾富) hypermarket operator Carrefour Taiwan (家樂福) as well as car washing operators to install battery swapping stations at their outlets the nation’s biggest electric scooter supplier yesterday said it has won the bid to build battery swapping stations at 194 outlets of state-run CPC Taiwan The company currently has 437 battery swapping stations at CPC stations Gogoro has so far deployed 7,381 battery swapping stations nationwide for about 400,000 riders from Gogoro and Aeon Motor Co (宏佳騰) and other members of the “Powered by Gogoro Network” to get charged batteries Kwang Yang said CPC is one of its major partners with about 100 swapping stations to be deployed at CPC stations The company is also in talks with other gasoline suppliers including the one operated by Shang-long Transportation Co (山隆通運) Kwang Yang Motor Co (光陽工業) plans to convert all 1,700 of its authorized dealers into hybrid outlets selling electric and gasoline-powered scooters within two years in an effort to challenge industry leader Gogoro Inc (睿能創意) As the upgraded stores would also provide electric battery swapping stations and maintenance centers Kwang Yang said it expects its battery swapping network to more than double in two years to about 4,300 locations from 2,600 now A majority of its Ionex-brand electric scooters are sold at specialized stores operated by Ionex Taiwan Co (台灣光捷) Most of Kwang Yang’s authorized distributors are eager to sell its electric scooters as the electric vehicle trend gains momentum company chairman Allen Ko told a media briefing in Taipei yesterday The market changes have never been so marked as in the past few years “The hybrid stores would help boost the growth momentum of Index vehicles and broaden its service coverage,” Ko said “It would also be a major step forward for the company as it seeks to be a double champion in the gasoline-powered and electric scooter sectors Kwang Yang has set an ambitious goal to unseat Gogoro’s No.1 market position next year and reclaim its top position in the gasoline-powered scooter sector in the home market “We understand this is an uphill fight for us,” Ko said Kwang Yang has to significantly expand its market share to between at least 25 and 30 percent The company currently has about a 15 percent market share Kwang Yang last year outperformed local rivals in advancing its market share to about 7.2 percent from 3.1 percent in the previous year The market share of its closest competitor while Gogoro’s market share dropped to 73.9 percent from 78.7 percent a year earlier Gogoro said it has deployed more than 2,500 battery stations with more than 12,000 cabinets The electric scooter maker has about 540,000 Gogoro scooter riders under its Gogoro Network It deploys mainly smaller battery stations with each site offering five batteries rather than the at least 100 available at each of Gogoro’s stations which sells scooters and motorcycles under the KYMCO (光陽) brand yesterday said it is under mounting pressure to increase prices amid a surge in raw material costs Local scooter and motorcycle manufacturers have so far absorbed rising costs to avoid scaring away consumers while automakers have adjusted prices upward by 3 to 5 percent to reflect cost pressure “Based on changes in prices for raw materials Kwang Yang faces an increase of more than NT$1 billion (US$35.6 billion) in costs this year,” Kwang Yang chairman Allen Ko (柯勝峰) told reporters on the sidelines of a media briefing in Changhua County yesterday at which the firm introduced its new AK550 Super Touring scooter “Hiking prices and reducing promotional activities is becoming inevitable,” Ko said He did not disclose how much prices would need to rise to cover the additional costs despite market speculation that local scooter manufacturers are looking at a 5 percent hike as prices for materials used in scooter chassis The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly dampened scooter and motorcycle sales in Taiwan as people have avoided going out and curtailed spending on big-ticket items amid economic uncertainty “The market will see a significant decline this year,” Ko said Scooter sales are expected to contract about 18 percent this year to about 850,000 units compared with 1.03 million units last year Kwang Yang expects sales of gasoline-powered scooters in Taiwan to hold steady next year as the pandemic is under control in the nation adding that Kwang Yang aims to defend its No He said that he is optimistic about sales of electric scooters next year on the back of an extension of a government subsidy program He did not provide a detailed forecast of electric scooter sales 2 electric scooter maker after Gogoro Inc (睿能創意) It plans to expand its battery-swapping stations and aims to boost the number of its distributors to 100 next year from 30 this year The company’s overseas expansion is expected to start bearing fruit next year as it makes inroads into the European market It has resumed talks with potential partners to sell its scooters and Ionex battery-swapping system as the COVID-19 situation has improved Kwang Yang Motor Co (光陽工業) has set a target of raising electric scooter sales five-fold to 15,000 units next year thanks to the extension of a government subsidy for electric scooter purchases and a broader distribution network Kwang Yang has been selling gasoline-powered scooters for more than 50 years under the KYMCO brand while the company’s fully-owned Ionex Taiwan Co (台灣光捷) is responsible for building and selling Ionex-brand electric scooters “The company was greatly affected by the [COVID-19] pandemic from April when we started deploying our distribution network The sales of Ionex scooters started an upswing from the end of August We believe the growth will carry through December,” Ionex Taiwan chief marketing officer Johnson Lin (林振盛) said on the sidelines of a news conference in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) Ionex has a 5 percent share of the market and expects sales momentum to further rise next year as it looks to boost its distribution network to 100 from about 30 this year The government’s extension of a subsidy for electric scooter purchases to next year is an important incentive for the industry which faces heavy spending on battery development and battery swapping stations deployment The company has installed 709 battery swapping stations so far and is on track to hit 1,000 units by the end of the year Ionex had sold 1,969 electric scooters this year compared with market leader Gogoro Inc’s (睿能) 63,383 units Aeon Motor Co (宏佳騰) was next with 7,228 units followed by China Motor Corp (中華汽車) with 2,048 units Gogoro operates more than 2,100 battery swapping stations in the nation and aims to add 583 battery swapping points at CPC Corp Taiwan’s (中油) service stations by the end of this year Kwang Yang Motor Co (光陽工業) aims to unseat Gogoro Inc (睿能創意) as the nation’s No 1 electric scooter vendor by 2024 on the back of rising brand awareness among consumers company chairman Allen Ko (柯勝?) told a media gathering on Wednesday The company outsold its closest rival Aeon Motor Co (宏佳騰) in September and last month becoming the second-biggest electric scooter vendor in Taiwan with a market share of 11.7 percent last month and 17 percent so far this month thanks to robust sales of its new Ionex Air model Kwang Yang said its performance would have been better if it were not for a chip shortage The company said it is unclear when the chip crunch would ease “A market newcomer usually faces the disadvantage of limited brand awareness Consumers usually go straight to the established players,” Ko said “I believe our electric scooter sales will leapfrog when we make a breakthrough in raising our public visibility,” he said After achieving its goal of securing second place in the market this year taking the top position is the next challenge for Kwang Yang “We believe we have the chance to take the top spot in 2024,” he said Gogoro and its partners in the Powered by Gogoro Network (PBGN) together held a market share of 80.2 percent last month Motive Power Industry Co (摩特動力) and Suzuki Motor Corp The company’s fully owned Ionex Taiwan Co (台灣光捷) is responsible for producing and selling Ionex-brand electric scooters Kwang Yang also operates its own battery swapping system The company expects to deploy about 2,000 battery-swapping stations this year and more next year About 6,000 people have purchased Ionex scooters since the system’s launch in 2018 Kwang Yang is also exploring opportunities to expand overseas The company sells electric scooters with chargeable batteries in more than 10 countries in Europe as it is difficult to deploy battery-swapping stations there Kwang Yang targets the high-end electric scooter market to avoid direct competition with major Chinese brands The company is expecting the biggest growth potential in India adding that the company is also in talks with potential partners to make inroads into Southeast Asian markets to build a stronger foothold there “We expect next year to be a wonderful year,” Ko said “The talks are picking up pace as COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed in some countries.” He declined to disclose details about what kind of partnerships Kwang Yang is negotiating a major manufacturer primarily of gasoline-powered scooters under the KYMCO brand has pledged to invest NT$4.4 billion (US$142.4 million) in the research and manufacture of electric scooters and battery packs as well as the establishment of electrified infrastructure for sales of electric scooters in Taiwan the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Friday The InvesTaiwan Service Center on Friday approved the Kaohsiung-based company’s application to participate in the government’s incentive program The announcement comes as Kwang Yang is building a business model for the construction of an ecosystem for electric scooters battery packs and battery-swapping stations around the nation the company hopes to provide comprehensive electric scooter solutions for individuals Kwang Yang has achieved its goal of setting up 2,600 battery-swapping stations this year which cover more than 80 percent of Taiwan’s administrative regions and make the company the largest provider of battery-swapping stations in the nation the company plans to carry out research on the reuse of old batteries and their recycling as part of its efforts to achieve its social responsibility and sustainability goals InvesTaiwan also on Friday approved plans by three other companies including machine tool maker Parkson Wu Industrial Co (寶嘉誠工業) and sheet metal processing provider Taiwa Precise Technique Co (台華精技) to establish or expand their manufacturing facilities in the nation The “Invest in Taiwan” initiative has to date attracted 1,377 companies to invest more than NT$2.08 trillion in Taiwan The investment figure is expected to reach NT$2.2 trillion by the end of the year Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said on Saturday while attending an investment conference focusing on the private sector’s participation in public construction projects Taipei Times: How did the pandemic affect Kwang Yang Motor Co’s (光陽工業) business operations Allen Ko (柯勝峰): The impact is stronger on the overseas markets business activity came to a halt in many countries due to large-scale lockdowns as governments tried to rein in the spread of the pandemic and we received virtually not a single order most countries adopted a different approach to control the spread of the virus Governments imposed partial lockdowns and social distancing or asked bars and restaurants to cut business hours Those measures at least allow for some business activity People shun public transportation and turn to personal vehicles because of the pandemic Our capacity cannot keep up with the demand We had to cancel the annual leaves of 7 to 10 days we are very fortunate that our business is less affected by the pandemic TT: How about Kwang Yang’s collaborations with overseas partners Ko: We have been working closely with ride-hailing service provider Grab Holdings Inc Grab has a very ambitious plan to launch electric scooter sharing services to provide shared electric motorcycles for Grab members in food delivery goods delivery or in the logistics business We will have a more ambitious plan next year when the pandemic subsides Grab has ordered about 100 electric scooters TT: How about Kwang Yang’s plan to make inroads into the Indian market Ko: We originally had a joint venture with 22 Motors Ltd The founders of 22 Motors were divided over the company’s development goals numerous companies showed strong interests and approached us for collaborations We made good progress in talks for forming new partnerships but the talks were suspended as the pandemic made international travel difficult We hope to resume talks after the pandemic stabilizes As India is the world’s biggest motorcycle market it is natural that every player wants to vie for a piece of that pie TT: Please tell us about KYMCO’s new electric motorcycle which was unveiled two weeks ago along with Kwang Yang’s other new models is a different breed from the Ionex models which we launched three years ago The Ionex series is more for urban mobility and suitable for populous markets such as Taiwan They are ideal products for business-to-business (B2B) models to use in urban environments and swap batteries at designated stations some consumers find this kind of electric scooter unsatisfactory for recreational purposes without compromising motor power The F9 is powered by a 9.4 kilowatt electric motor and features a 96 volt battery pack with 40Ah lithium-ion units The F9 can be charged at charging stations Taiwanese consumers are familiar with battery-swapping systems the main trend is to recharge the batteries of electric motorcycles we do not plan to introduce the F9 to the Taiwanese market Chinese consumers’ incomes are increasing and demand for high-end electric vehicles is on the rise people tended to buy lower-priced models for about 1,000 yuan to 2,000 yuan (US$153 to US$306) Now they can afford models for 8,000 yuan to 15,000 yuan Relaxed regulations are another driving force We expect the Chinese market to grow rapidly over the next three to five years TT: Does Kwang Yang plan to launch new Ionex models next year Ko: We plan to launch a new series of Ionex models in the first quarter of next year Those models will be equipped with removable batteries They will be suitable for the local market TT: How about Kwang Yang’s manufacturing facilities overseas We plan to invest in the Vietnamese factory and make it our manufacturing hub in reaction to the establishment of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade bloc We also plan to build new manufacturing facilities in Italy will be “made in Italy.” It will help us build the image that Kwang Yang is a pioneer and a leader in electric motorcycle manufacturing TT: Kwang Yang makes a very special case by offering electric motorcycles and gasoline-powered models at the same time Ko: Electric vehicle transition is the trend and we want to be the first to make it happen The world’s major motorcycle makers are reluctant to push the transition as they are afraid of losing their competitive edge built on gasoline-powered motorcycles The challenge for us is to rebrand as a supplier of electric motorcycles We have to reset our mindset to design an electric model catering to the needs of customers Those interested in buying electric motorcycles are different from buyers of gasoline-powered ones They are more tech-savvy and not as price sensitive TT: Will Kwang Yang follow the path of Gogoro Inc (睿能創意) which created the “Powered by Gogoro Network” and makes electric scooters for other companies Ko: Making KYMCO motorcycles is our first priority We are open-minded about providing manufacturing services only on the condition that we have extra capacity for that and Harley-Davidson Inc on the development of electric motorcycles would be mutually beneficial Kwang Yang Motor Co (光陽工業) chairman Allen Ko (柯勝峰) said yesterday “As the auto and motorcycle industry faces a critical turning point this first-of-its-kind partnership in the business of motorcycles will create a new dimension in the electric motorcycle market,” Ko told a news conference in Taipei Harley-Davidson on Monday announced that it would list its electric motorcycle division on the New York Stock Exchange through special purpose acquisition company AEA-Bridges Impact Corp The partners would invest US$100 million each “LiveWire’s mission is to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world,” Harley-Davidson chairman and acting CEO Jochen Zeitz said in a prerecorded video shown at the Taipei event LiveWire would be the world’s first listed electric motorcycle company Ko said his company is expected to own a 4 percent stake in LiveWire and play a role as a strategic partner while Harley-Davidson would hold 74 percent of the shares The two companies can tap into each other’s resources and strengths to build a shared platform through LiveWire The partnership would also help elevate the Taiwanese brand’s image and increase its exposure creating more possibilities for its own electric motorbike business Harley-Davidson said that the transaction would have to be approved by AEA-Bridges shareholders The US company said it expects the deal to close in the first half of next year (YM) has announced to launch a new Korea-Taiwan-Hong Kong (loop code: KTH) service effective from August 13th (KMTC) with a total of two container vessels of nominal 1,800 TEU capacity The calling port rotation of KTH service is Inchon The hefty $81m in fines imposed by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) on 23 .. Shippers exasperated with the constant flip-flops in the Trump administration’s trade policy have agreed to .. Taiwanese carrier Yang Ming today reported revenue of $6.94bn last year Yang Ming today announced plans to acquire 13 containerships ranging in capacity from 8,000 to .. The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a request for more information from ONE have announced their inaugural sailing network .. South Korean container carrier HMM was today the latest carrier to report bumper third-quarter figures .. Additional tonnage being introduced to the ocean shipping market next year presents “an opportunity for .. email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Taipei Times: Why did you and your partners want to start KYMCO Capital (金庫資本) a decade ago Gary Ting (丁學文): The fund was started 10 years ago to help Taiwanese companies tap into the Chinese market A large number of Taiwanese firms found it difficult to break into the Chinese market because they did not know how to cater to Chinese tastes Kwang Yang maintained a marginal market position with annual sales of 10,000 KYMCO-brand motorcycles in China back in 2009 while the market was estimated to have annual sales topping 28 million vehicles Kwang Yang’s 400 component suppliers all faced the same problem of breaking into China’s automobile market which was a relatively “closed and protected” market compared with the US or Europe That was when KYMCO Capital came in and decided to serve as a platform helping those companies to build partnerships and leverage each other’s strengths TT: What did you do to help Taiwanese firms overcome that bottleneck Ting: We truly believed that it would create the biggest value by integrating Taiwanese firms’ technologies with the wisdom of Chinese companies We thought equity investment was an appropriate way to facilitate such integration so we came to the conclusion that we could provide technology and know-how by acquiring stakes from 6 to 30 percent in any company The Shanghai City Government was the first supporter of the fund and Shanghai was the place where the fund started TT: What was the fund’s first investment project the fund invested 60 million yuan (US$8.6 million) in Luyuan Electric Vehicle Co (綠源電動車) China’s second-largest electric scooter brand as we wanted to know how to sell electric scooters in China’s second-tier and third-tier cities We also wanted to know how to build an electric scooter with retail prices as low as 2,000 yuan the fund and Luyuan created a joint venture called Luyuan Kwang Yang (綠源光陽) in Hangzhou established our brand and obtained a share of the local market TT: How big is the fund and who are its investors Ting: KYMCO Capital now manages seven funds with a combined capital of US$370 million The fund operates independently from Kwang Yang The motorcycle maker is an important investor in the fund and we have been focusing on investing in motorcycle and automobile supply chains since day one The number of investors in the fund has grown to 37 from 11 in the initial stages Most of them are from the automobile industry including battery maker Simplo Technology Co (新普科技) electronic components maker Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co (正崴精密) and automobile bearings supplier Hengtong Machinery Co (亨通機械) Break and rear mirror makers also invested in the fund TT: What are the fund’s next investment targets Ting: We concentrate on four major markets — Taiwan We like start-ups because we believe that they are going to impact to human life in the next decade just like the iPhone has totally changed daily life and retailers’ business models and consumer behavior Electric vehicles and their supply chains are among our favorites we are in talks with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s (阿里巴巴) supermarket retail arm FreshHema.com (河馬鮮生) and Chinese food delivery platforms Meituan-Dianping (美團點評) and Ele.me (餓了麼) to sell electric scooters to them and offer fleet management services we are teaming up with Singapore’s ride-hailing company Grab we are working with taxi-hailing company Ola and motorcycle-sharing service provider Bounce we hope to make returns for our investors via equity investments and to provide vehicle and fleet management services through Kwang Yang TT: Kwang Yang’s business model is different from that of its rival Gogoro Inc (睿能創意) Ting: The business models are completely different Gogoro primarily sells its electric scooters to average consumers which is a business-to-consumer (B2C) model Kwang Yang concentrates on the business-to-business (B2B) market by providing vehicles to drivers of Grab and food deliverers from Meituan-Dianping and Ele.me Kwang Yang also helps to make sure that electric scooter fleets are dispatched in a more effective way we think it is easier to make money via the B2B model Kwang Yang plans to evolve into a company that powers electric vehicles running on the streets of southeastern Asian countries [Editor’s note: Taiwanese electric scooter-sharing service provider Wemo Corp (威摩科技) has also adopted Kwang Yang’s vehicles to offer its services.] TT: What is your view on Gogoro’s business model Ting: High battery costs is the number one pain point as almost all electric scooter makers source batteries from LG Chem Ltd Each Gogoro vehicle is equipped with two batteries totaling NT$50,000 which does not include the costs from those stored at its battery swapping stations while it might take seven years to recoup the costs Gogoro possibly generates cash only from collecting monthly fees from 200,000 riders the company is heavily reliant on government subsidies to stay on the market Gogoro’s business model could lead to financial problems if it does not receive new capital injections Taipei Times: Did the COVID-19 pandemic reduce scooter sales in Taiwan and curtail Kwang Yang Motor Co’s (光陽工業) shipments the pandemic has barely affected the company’s scooter sales thanks to the government’s better control of the pandemic It is true that consumers at first had a wait-and-see attitude toward scooter purchases in February and March when local infections started to emerge but the government’s quick response to rein in the spread of the virus helped calm the public’s nerves Our sales [by unit] bounced back afterward bringing total sales up 2 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year overall scooter sales in Taiwan grew 2 percent annually to 403,199 units in the first six months of the year we expect that scooter sales in Taiwan might be similar to last year’s number of about 900,000 units TT: As progress fighting the spread of COVID-19 is uneven around the world how has the disease affected sales of KYMCO scooters overseas Ko: The pandemic has had a bigger impact on our sales overseas and we have seen a year-on-year decline of 20 to 30 percent thus far the spread of the virus is still very severe in Africa and Latin America Argentina and Colombia are our major markets Because of the lockdown measures imposed by governments there customers have temporarily paused orders as consumers are restricted from going out to shop there are still some inventories that need to be digested before new orders can be placed Orders from European markets have recovered lately as some countries are reopening their economies gradually France and Italy are our top markets in Europe and we are seeing orders from European markets rebound and approach normal levels orders this month have surpassed those we received during the same month last year we are positive about the outlook for European markets as scooter distributors and shops need to buy environmentally friendly scooters in preparation for the implementation of new Euopean emission rules that are to take effect in January next year we expect our employees to have to start working overtime in the second half of the year TT: How did adjustments in tax incentives and subsidies from the government change the landscape of the domestic scooter market this year Ko: Electric scooter makers are heavily reliant on the central and local governments’ subsidies to sell their products due to their high price tags strong subsidies boosted sales of electric scooters significantly from Gogoro Inc (睿能創意) and members of the Powered by Gogoro Network That brought electric scooter makers’ local market share to a combined 18.7 percent electric scooter sales took a nosedive in January and only accounted for about 4.5 percent of total scooter sales in Taiwan as the central and local governments for the first time included fuel-powered scooters in the tax incentive program that subsidizes purchases of new scooters to retire old ones Total subsidies can be up to NT$13,300 per vehicle for purchases of scooters equipped with an anti-lock braking system as well as a rebate of 17 percent in commodity tax Our efforts to promote tax equity starting last year are also affecting electric scooter sales supported our appeal and granted tax refunds and subsidies for purchases of fuel-powered and electric scooters electric scooter makers no longer enjoy preferential status With the new tax incentives in place for the remainder of the year electric scooter sales could drop a bit more Gogoro recalled some scooters due to technical problems which has also raised the public’s concern over the electric model’s safety rapid sales growth also resulted in an insufficient supply of fully charged batteries all these factors are likely to lead to falling electric scooters sales this year TT: The Ministry of Finance has proposed extending the tax refund program for five years to accelerate the phasing out of older and less environmentally friendly scooters as the existing program is to expire at the end of this year Do you think the ministry’s proposal is a boon for scooter makers It is baffling because we had not heard of this ministry proposal until recently as the tax incentive program has been in place for five years as a high percentage of old scooters have been replaced only half of KYMCO scooter buyers applied for government subsidies recently it is a complicated process to get government subsidies as applicants need to fill in at least 15 application forms from five government agencies the tax refund program is a short-term substitute before the commodity tax is eliminated The ministry has promised to scrap the tax entirely TT: Kwang Yang has been calling on the government to cancel the 17 percent commodity tax on scooters scooters are no longer considered luxury goods but an important mobility option for commuters — especially for lower-income earners commodity taxes are levied only on luxury goods such as cars Taiwan is one of the few countries in the world that still has the extra levy on scooters and the tax adds a financial burden on consumers as the prices of scooters are rising due to increasing costs The total cost of a new and greener scooter that meets the government’s latest Phase 7 emissions standards is at least two times higher than for one meeting the Phase 1 emissions standards Kwang Yang invests up to NT$2 billion [US$67.54 million] a year in research and development Our R&D staff has risen to about 700 people we are only asking to make a decent gross margin of 5 percent the commodity tax on scooters contributed a net NT$3 billion to the national coffers which is a very minimal portion of the total tax revenue The ministry has seen tax revenue surpass its forecast by more than NT$50 billion per year over the past few years So why does it bother to continue this tax If the ministry decides not to get rid of the commodity tax it should at least halve the 17 percent tax rate on fuel-powered scooters to match the 8.5 percent rate on electric scooters the nation's largest motorcycle manufacturer may soon sign an agreement with Japan-based Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd to become the sole distributor for Kawasaki large-displacement motorcycles in Taiwan "We are close to making a final decision with Kawasaki .. and hopefully we will be able to sign the deal by the end of the year," said Chuang Chia-cheng (莊家政) Kwang Yang may first open a flag-ship display store to take orders for the bikes in Taipei by year's end and hopefully start distributing Kawasaki bikes here early next year Kawasaki bikes are currently undergoing government emissions and noise tests Imported bikes have to first cut through government red tape on licensing and emissions rules before they can be sold said the domestic market for large-displacement motorcycles is not as good as expected citing weak sales over the past few months amid a slower economy Taiwan started to allow the registration of large-displacement motorcycles in July "We originally expected to sell 300 big bikes per month in Taiwan But we have only sold about 100 units per month on average," Chuang said Kwang Yang debuted two 250cc bikes priced at NT$185,000 and NT$145,000 per unit under its own brand name in July "With each model costing more than NT$100,000 and taking up a lot of showroom space many of our local distributors said they are not interested in selling bigger bikes -- prefering instead to sell less-expensive scooters," Chuang said Kwang Yang has some 2,700 local distributors has secured more than 100 orders from the nation's big-bike enthusiasts since last month the company said yesterday at a launching ceremony for BMW bikes Pan German is introducing nine different BMW large-displacement motorcycles to Taiwan with prices ranging from NT$420,000 to NT$1.07 million each The company is targeting sales of 300 units by the end of the year Bike Europe is a part of VMNmedia. 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An Octane Media, LLC Publication the Truong Hai Star 3 transshipped 1,700 tons of cassava chips of VBS Investment and Commercial JSC from Chu Lai port to Hai Phong port which then were transfered to the SITC KWANGYANG ship to go to China The cassava chips were transported directly from Sekong Cassava chips are bulk goods which require special expensive and time-consuming methods of transport realizing that Chu Lai port is capable of meeting its requirements of quality a Laotian agricultural business exporting forest products agricultural products chose Chu Lai as their exporting port The business is storing more than 1,000 tons of cassava chips at the port which will continue to increase in the near future the import and export demands in Laos are increasing opening up opportunities for ports in Central Vietnam to attract "freights" promoting regional and international trade As the gateway to the sea for Southern Laos Chu Lai port is currently receiving large exports from Savanakhet the warehouses and yards at the port can store goods in large quantities and diverse types serving the import and export needs of enterprises Chu Lai Port is pouring heavy investments in developing both infrastructure and equipment seeking export sources of neighboring countries mainly from Laos to become the international transshipment center in Central Vietnam Arun Plus-KYMCO collaborate to launch Aionex aiming for leadership in Thailand's E-Motorcycle Market Arun Plus and KYMCO join forces to introduce Aionex a collaborative venture dedicated to the production and servicing of e-motorcycles in Thailand With a storied history spanning six decades and a presence in over 100 countries globally recognized KYMCO aims to lead Thailand's e-motorcycle market Aionex will provide advanced smart driving technology all in alignment with KYMCO's dedication to innovation and quality The partnership between Arun Plus Company Limited and KYMCO CAPITAL PRIVATE EQUITY MANAGEMENT Company Limited has led to the establishment of a joint venture named Aionex Co. This collaborative effort focuses on the production and provision of battery swapping stations for electric motorcycles contributing to the modern driving experience in Thailand a globally acclaimed brand with a remarkable six-decade history in motorcycle manufacturing presents a diverse range of electric motorcycles spanning power outputs from 0.8 kW to 8.3 kW enhancing both driving enjoyment and environmental consciousness The execution of the joint venture is contingent on conditions specified in the agreement contract and necessitates approval or extension from pertinent authorities remarked that "Aionex" emerges from the collaborative endeavours of Arun Plus and the KYMCO Group acknowledging the substantial potential within Thailand's motorcycle market boasting an estimated 22 million motorcycles a distinguished global motorcycle manufacturer electric motorcycles are positioned as avant-garde innovations catering to environmentally conscious consumers Aionex will extend its maintenance services through PTTOR service stations and strategic partnerships Aionex's ambitious plan includes the deployment of 300 ionex battery swapping stations by 2025 offering riders swift battery replacements both within and outside PTT stations A user-friendly application will assist riders in locating nearby stations Aionex's intention is to transfer KYMCO's technological prowess to Thai consumers and suppliers with a focus on domestic components to establish a robust electric motorcycle supply chain The partnership between Arun Plus and KYMCO aspires to position Thailand as a pivotal ASEAN hub for electric motorcycle production and distribution "Our objective is to propel Thailand to the forefront of ASEAN's e-motorcycle industry through innovation and collaboration." 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