Major Chinese Automaker Execs Coming to Taiwan for Cooperation

Taipei, April 9, 2012 (CENS)--A senior executive of the major Chinese automaker SAIC Group is expected to come to Taiwan to develop ties with automotive-electronics and new-energy vehicle industries, according to Winner Yu, Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) board director.

If Taiwan's automotive-electronics suppliers can effectively tap major Chinese automakers' supply chains, Yu added, the sector can be the 4th "C" (car electronics) in addition to the globally reputed 3C (computer, communication, and consumer electronics) lines.

In the past, Yu pointed out, the growth of Taiwan's automotive-electronics industry had been relatively slow; but after gaining strong support from local printed circuit board (PCB), wafer foundry, and IC design sectors, as well as auto-parts being included for prioritized duty-reduction in the cross-Taiwan Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), ever more Chinese automakers are expected to look for partners in Taiwan.

According to Yu, senor executives of the SAIC Group and Dongfeng Motor plan to visit the island, but the date has not been finalized.

Yu said that the SAIC Group sold about four million new cars in 2011, which is potentially a huge market for Taiwanese auto-parts suppliers, adding that TEEMA plans to allow over 20 members of the Taiwan Autotronics Collaboration Alliance (TACA) under TEEMA to negotiate ties with Chinese automakers.