正體中文|English
Since 2021, the IDA (Industrial Development Administration, Ministry
of Economic Affairs) has received reports accusing Gogoro Taiwan of using
Chinese-made motor controllers for key components in its Viva series, allegedly
engaged in country of origin fraud to claim subsidies for domestic electric motorcycles
(amounting to NT$600 million).
Following investigation and committee review, IDA has
preliminarily determined that Gogoro imported semi-finished circuit boards from
Guangdong GOBAO Technology (a subsidiary of Quanta in China) and assembled them
into complete motor controllers in Taiwan. The registration of the motor
controller manufacturer as Quanta was incorrect and should be corrected to Gogoro
Taiwan. The Viva scooters also comply with the relevant requirements for
domestic electric motorcycle subsidies.
Gogoro's chairman and CEO, Horace Luke (founder of Gogoro),
resigned on September 14, with speculation linking to Gogoro's prolonged losses
and the above-mentioned controversy over the country of origin fraud and
subsidy claim.
In addition to the stagnation of its EV-scooter manufacturing
business, Gogoro Network's battery swapping venture faces a new challenge as
SYM and CPC (Taiwan’s state-owned oil company) launched a third battery
swapping system on September 26. The SYM+CPC system will initially operate 22
swap stations in Tainan, aiming to service 600 swap-enabled scooters (SYM NX-1)
in the initial phase.
Standardizing battery swap systems would offer the greatest
overall benefit for manufacturers, consumers, and society. The European Union
is close to finalizing battery swapping specifications and charging protocols
for motorcycles. In Taiwan, where battery swapping systems have been in
development for over a decade, it's evident that the Gogoro Network, Kymco, and
the latest SYM+CPC swapping systems do not possess distinct or necessary
differences for the market or consumers. In a market that sells only 800,000 to
1 million motorcycles annually, the competition among several battery swapping
system providers may be the last thing Taiwan, which initially had an advanced
edge in the EV motorcycle industry, should want to see.
For EV motorcycle industry in Taiwan, it would be better for
Gogoro Taiwan to split into two companies—one for scooter manufacturing and
another for the battery swapping system. For a detailed explanation of this
viewpoint, please refer to this article of sez Taiwan Scope: https://seztwnscope01.blogspot.com/2022/09/yamaha-ec-05-2-wild-hogs-test-ride-of.html
This news commentary draws on information from the following
sources:
(1) Economic Daily: "Gogoro Exposed for Using Chinese-made
Parts; Investigation by MOEA Results in Major Reversal" (2024-10-01) https://money.udn.com/money/story/5613/8262663?from=edn_newest_index
(2) Liberty Times: "CPC Unveils New Battery and Swap System!
SYM Electric Scooter NX 1 Makes Debut" (2024-09-15)
https://auto.ltn.com.tw/news/26596/2
(3) China Times: "Gogoro’s Stock Price Plummets; Chairman
Horace Luke Resigns" (2024-09-14)
https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20240914001146-260410?chdtv
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