The nation's first auto complex is scheduled to open its doors for business in a Taipei suburb early next year, with its shopping mall component to be launched this month.
Developed by Yulon Motor Co (
10-year timeline
With an investment of NT$7 billion (US$210 million) in the development project, the nation's third-largest auto maker expects to recoup NT$4 billion of the construction costs in 10 years after the 11,000-ping (36,300m2) mall starts operating in the first quarter next year, Yulon Motor vice chairman Kenneth Yan (
The first building, which is 12-stories high and has a two-level basement, will include both car showrooms and offices. The second will offer auto maintenance services and a gymnasium that can accommodate between 600 and 1,000 people in a building eight stories high with a two-level basement.
The third building, which will be leased by the French hypermarket Carrefour Taiwan, will be developed as a shopping mall to include theme restaurants, fitness centers, and Carrefour's 34th outlet in Taiwan. It also has eight stories above ground and a two-level basement.
Lilian Lee (
She declined to disclose details on the company's goals for rent or revenue.
`One-stop shopping'
However, during the December ceremony, Yulon Motor president Chen Kuo-rong (陳國榮) projected that, with the goal of offering "one stop shopping" services for customers, the complex would generate more than NT$10 billion in annual sales.
"This is a substantial step for Yulon Motor to transform the 51-year-old company into a manufacturing service provider from an [auto] manufacturer," Yan said.
Third quarter result
Separately, Yulon Motor reported a 45 percent decline in third-quarter profit as sales declined.
Net income fell to NT$1.22 billion from NT$2.2 billion a year ago, according to figures derived by subtracting first-half profit from the nine-month profit reported by the company.
Sales fell 26.5 percent to NT$7.5 billion.
Nine-month profit declined 28 percent from a year ago to NT$4.63 billion. Sales, announced earlier, slipped 2.2 percent to NT$32.8 billion.
Yulon Motor on Oct. 1 announced a profit target of NT$4.6 billion for this year, down 40 percent from a year ago.
Sales may also increase 6 percent from last year to NT$39.6 billion, the company said in a statement to the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
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