AAA weekly
2021-11-09
Copyright FOURIN, Inc. 2024
Taiwan’s Vehicle Production Increased in H1 2021 Driven by the Toyota Corolla Cross
In the Taiwanese vehicle market, the increase of imported automobiles and the decrease of domestic-made vehicles has been a long-term trend. Investment to raise local automobile production has been limited in the past few years. However, in the first half of 2021 local production increased 23.9% from the same period of the previous year to 138,000 units, putting a stop to gradual decline in local production. Local production went up thanks to launching the locally-made Toyota Corolla Cross in the second half of 2020.
Taiwan: Manufacturing Bases of Major Automakers (As of September 2021)
| Local Manufacturer (Brands) | Factory (Location) | Annual Production Capacity | Products | Overview / Trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuozui Motors (Toyota, Hino) | Zhongli Plant (Taoyuan City) | 120,000 units | Toyota: Corolla Altis, Corolla Altis HEV, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross HEV | ・Established in April 1984. Started operation in January 1986. Owned 65% by Toyota Motor, 30% by Hotai Motor and 5% Hino Motors. The initial annual production capacity was 85,000 units. Site area is 227,000 m2. ・In March 2015, production of the Corolla Altis X, which was independently developed by Kuozui Motors, started. ・In March 2016, 1.4 billion TWD was invested in production facilities, including the Guanyin Plant. ・In March 2019, the Corolla Altis (12th generation, gasoline and HEV) went into production. ・In October 2020, the Corolla Cross (gasoline and HEV) went into production. In addition to the domestic market, the model was also launched in Morocco and elsewhere in Africa starting from November. |
| Guanyin Plant (Taoyuan City) | 80,000 units | Toyota: Vios, Yaris, Sienta | ・Started operation in March 1995. The initial annual production capacity was 40,000 units which was raised to 65,000 units in August 2006. Site area is 336,000 m2. ・In August, the press shop was completed, introducing 1,600-ton and 800-ton servo press machines. ・In November 2018, production of the Camry and Camry HEV was discontinued. The two models were replaced with the new (8th generation) versions imported in CBU form from Japan. | |
| Hino: Trucks, buses, bus chassis | ・In April 2009, production of Hino's 300 series light-duty truck (Dutro) began. ・In July 2014, cumulative truck production reached 100,000 units. ・In February 2021, production of the 200 series light-duty truck (Dutro) began. Export of the same model began in June of the same year. | |||
| China Motor / CMC (CMC, Mitsubishi, Fuso) | Yangmei Plant (Taoyuan City) | 120,000 units | Mitsubishi: Colt Plus, Outlander, Grand Lancer, Delica CMC: Zinger, Veryca, e-Veryca | ・Established in 1969. Started operation in 1973. Owned 25.19% by Tai Yuen Textile, a subsidiary of Yulon Group, 14% by Mitsubishi Motors, 8.05% by Yulon Motor, 6.76% by Diamond Hosiery & Thread and 4.8% by Mitsubishi Corporation (as of April 2020). Site area is approx. 198,000 m2. ・In June 2019, CMC announced a project aimed at improving the commercial vehicle production equipment at the Yangmei Plant. The project is intended to boost daily production capacity to 170 units. ・In October 2019, export of the Zinger was resumed to the Middle East (export to the Middle East was suspended in mid-2018). ・Around August 2020, production of the e-Veryca electric vehicle began. ・In February 2021, export of the Delica to the Middle East and Latin America began. |
| Hsinchu Plant (Hsinchu County) | Fuso: Canter, Fighter | ・Started operation in 1990. Site area is approx. 50,000 m2. ・In September 2020, production of the Fuso brand was discontinued. | ||
| Luxgen Motor (Nissan, Luxgen) | Sanyi Plant (Miaoli County) | Automobiles: 59,000 units (one shift) Engines: 55,000 units (one shift) | Nissan: Sentra, Tiida, Livina, X-Trail, Kicks | ・Established in 1953. Concluded a technical tie-up with Nissan in 1957. Owned 18.11% by Tai Yuen Textile, 16.67% by CMC and others (as of April 2020). ・In August 2020, production of the Livina was scheduled to be discontinued but the model was in production as of the beginning of the following month. ・In September 2020, the Sentra was scheduled to undergo full-model change. |
| Luxgen: U6, URX, M7, V7 | ・In 2009, production of the self-developed Luxgen 7 MPV (M7) began. ・In November 2019, production of the URX compact crossover began. ・In 2020, production of the S3 subcompact sedan and U5 subcompact crossover was discontinued. | |||
| Ford Lio Ho (Ford) | Zhongli Plant (Taoyuan City) | 120,000 units | Ford: Kuga, Focus | ・Established in 1953. Entered into a capital tie-up with Ford in 1979. Owned 70% by Ford Motor and 30% by Li Ho Group. Site area is approx. 348,000 m2 while plant area is approx. 145,000 m2. ・In May 2016, consignment production of Mazda models was discontinued. ・In July 2020, it was reported that there are plans to increase production capacity by 30% and workforce by 10% in order to raise production of the Kuga and Focus. ・In December 2020, the introduction of a smart production line using AI and IoT was announced. The line is capable of the mixed production of four models and switch production from one model to another in 30 seconds. |
| Honda Taiwan (Honda) | Pingtung Plant (Pingtung County) | 30,000 units | Honda: CR-V, HR-V, Fit, City | ・Established in February 2002. Started operation in December 2002. Owned 100% by Honda Motor (as of March 2020). The plant has welding, coating, assembly and inspection shops. ・In February 2019, Honda announced plans to invest 4 billion TWD over the next five years (until 2023) to introduce new production equipment and launch production of new models. |
| Sanyang Motor / SYM (Hyundai) | Hsinchu Plant (Hsinchu County) | 35,000 units | Hyundai: Elantra, Venue, Tucson, Porter, Mighty | ・In 2002, SYM concluded a technical tie-up with Hyundai Motor. ・In 2003, production of automobiles began. ・In 2019, production of the Kia brand was discontinued. ・In 2020, production of the Hyundai Kona began in February followed by the Venue in April. |
| Formosa Automobile (DAF) | Dadu Plant (Taichung City) | 20,000 units | DAF: Trucks | ・In 2006, assembly of DAF trucks (CF85) began. ・In January 2017, cumulative production of DAF trucks reached 5,000 units. |
| Company name has yet to be announced (Isuzu) | Fengzhou Plant (Taichung City) | 5,000 units (plan) | Isuzu: Trucks, buses | ・In January 2020, Isuzu Motors signed an investment strategy alliance agreement with the Taichung City government regarding factory construction. The plant is located in the Fengzhou Science and Technology Industrial Park in Taichung City’s Shengang District and is scheduled to begin operation in the fall of 2021. ・Site area is 50,000 m2. The plant was invested for approx. 4 billion TWD. Production is said to be for the Taiwanese market, but the local media has reported that export is also under consideration. |