Researchers to present findings at show

The Metal Industries Research and Development Center (金屬工業研究發展中心) announced yesterday that it would present the initial results of its research and development in safer, smarter and more energy-saving automobiles at next week's Taipei International Automobile Electronics Show (AutoTronics Taipei 2006).

The show will be the first exhibition in the world featuring automobile electronics, center officials said.

They said that auto makers and research and development groups will take part in the four-day exhibition to be held from Monday to Friday at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall I.

The center, as well as the Automotive Research and Testing Center (車輛中心) and the Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (中科院) will present their progress in several areas, including night-vision systems and lane deviation warning systems, at the Taiwan Automotive Research Consortium (TARC) Pavilion, one of the exhibition's three theme pavilions.

The global market for automobiles is about 60 million new vehicles per year, center officials said, adding that if post-sale repair and maintenance are included, the demand for automobile electronics will see dramatic growth annually.

With Taiwan's edge in electronics and IT, the country should be able to make inroads into automobile electronics markets worldwide, they said.