Taiwan-based car dealer China Motor (CMC) is ramping up efforts to develop new energy vehicles (NEVs) this year, while evaluating whether to partner with other electric vehicle (EV) developers, such as Foxtron and the MIH platform, the company has said.
During an online investor conference on April 13, the company rolled out its 2022 development strategies.
CMC will continue to develop NEVs, corresponding to global trends of improving environment, social and governance (ESG) strategy and corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, and achieving carbon neutrality in coming decades, company vice president Chien Ching-wu said.
It will help promote British brand MG Motor's NEVs in the fourth quarter, while launching its new 3.5-ton trucks and additional models to its e-VERYCA series, he said, anticipating sales growths in the following quarters.
Set to be launched in the second half of this year, the latest e-VERYCA models will feature new mile range and powertrain systems, he added.
Selling small passenger cars could be more difficult this year than in 2021, due to the combined impacts of factors such as inflation, port jams, materials shortages, and other uncertainties caused by COVID-19, Chien said, projecting that small car sales would drop from 42,000 units last year to 38,000 units this year.
The company will step up its R&D efforts on a variety of NEVs, including commercial models, electric two-wheelers, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), he said.
It has launched EV series such as e-VERYCA commercial cars, iE-125 and EZ1 scooters, Shine and Bobe bikes, he said.
Apart from e-scooters with swappable batteries supported by PBGN (Powered by Gogoro Network), CMC will launch new e-MOVING scooters that support recharging systems. Users can install chargers at homes or visit the company's charging stations at hypermarkets, it said.
Meanwhile, CMC is applying its technology to automated vehicles such as trolleys and robots that can be employed in textile and healthcare sectors, and it is looking to provide customized solutions for Taiwan's semiconductor firms, it said.
The company will seek to introduce Mitsubishi's plug-in hybrid energy vehicles (PHEVs) and other NEV models into Taiwan, Chien said, adding that it will help produce MG cars in the fourth quarter.
To expedite its NEV development, the company is evaluating whether to build partnerships with Foxtron and the MIH platform, Chien said.
CMC's NEV strategies in 2022 |
Plans | Details |
Promoting R&D on new NEVs | Two-wheeled and commercial vehicles |
Seeking more strategic partners | Planning to work with Foxtron and MIH Introducing Mitsubishi's PHEVs and other NEV models to Taiwan |
Completing NEV product portfolio | Autonomous trolleys, robots for smart manufacturing |
Source: China Motor; compiled by DIGITIMES, April 2022
