Taiwan is known as the “bicycle kingdom” as it is one of the major exporters of high-end bicycles with a well-established bicycle industry cluster in central Taiwan. Taiwan is also the home of some of the most prominent bicycle companies, be it brand names like Giant and Merida or component suppliers like Velo (saddles), A-Pro (high-end frames), Maxxis (tires), and KMC (chains).
The global bicycle industry has entered the “electric era,” and Taiwanese companies are expected to continue to prosper in this new trend. Combining Taiwanese expertise in bicycles and ICT, Taiwan has gained a significant e-bike market share in the US and the Netherlands. It is expected that e-bike export revenue will surpass traditional bikes in 2022, making e-bikes the most important product for Taiwan’s bicycle industry.
Aside from electrification, Taiwanese companies are working on lightweight bikes, smart-device integrated bikes, and internet-connected bikes. With these new endeavours, plus their ability to customise products according to buyers’ needs, the bicycle kingdom is expected to continue its global reign in the years to come.