Taiwan, France plan cooperation on electric vehicles

The first-ever Taiwan-France Automotive Industry Cluster Exchange Seminar on Oct. 18 focused on future trends in electric car technology and how businesses on both sides can benefit from those trends, the organizers said.

A joint seminar by Taiwan and France on the electric vehicle business has produced “very positive” results and the two countries will seek further cooperation in the green industry in line with global trends, the organizers said Saturday.

The one-day seminar attracted hundreds of experts and industry representatives from the two countries, serving not only as an exchange platform but also a benchmark for further collaboration, said Martin Tzou, a senior trade adviser at the French Trade Office in Taipei.

More than 20 French industry experts and representatives participated in the forum, which was followed by about 80 business meetings that are expected to further solidify bilateral cooperation, Tzou told CNA.

Asked about the areas of priority, Tzou said the two countries are likely to work together to apply for joint global patents.

There have been “very positive” results and both sides are looking forward to future “long-term cooperation,” he said, but declined to give any further details.

On Friday, the French delegation visited Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute, the largest of its kind in the country, and Delta Electronics Inc., a leading supplier of power management devices, Tzou said.

The delegation expressed surprise that Taiwan has already developed a complete supply chain for the electric vehicle sector and said there are many opportunities for cooperation, according to Tzou.

He said the forum was successful and is likely to become an annual event.

The French delegation included representatives from Lyon Urban Truck & Bus, Renault, Volvo AB, Schneider Electric and the Union Technique de l’Automobile du Motocycle et du Cycle.

Taiwan’s representatives were from the Taiwan Automotive Research Consortium, Hua-chuang Automobile Information Technical Center Co., Delta Electronics Inc., Chroma ATE Inc. and Fukuta Elec. & Mach. Co.

Taiwan is hoping to become one of the world’s top 10 electric vehicle manufacturers by 2015.

The government said in July that it wants to decommission the 6,000-plus diesel buses around the country in eight to 13 years.

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