A report of a deal between German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) and Taiwan-based Yulon Motor Co Ltd (裕隆汽車) emerged yesterday, saying Taiwan’s largest automaker would assemble cars for and help the German firm target China and Southeast Asia.
Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) declined to confirm a deal between VW and Taiwan-based Yulon.
“To my knowledge, the two sides have met, but I cannot disclose anything more,” Shih told reporters.
VW has listed Taiwan as its priority location in looking for an overseas production base, Shih said, but the final decision is up to the two companies.
The report by the Chinese-language Economic Daily News cited sources from Swire Motors, an agent for VW in the Taiwan market, as saying that Yulon is expected to produce two VW models, including the Golf, in an initial phase.
The two sides are discussing details such as assembly costs and production volume and were likely to reach a deal by the end of next month, the report said.
VW plans to use the Taiwanese production base to target both the Chinese and ASEAN markets, it stated.
Yulon was not immediately available for comment on the report.
Shih said that as any investment deal between private companies was confidential business information between the firms in question, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) could not speak for them unless it was given permission.
“The MOEA welcomes foreign investments in Taiwan,” the minister said. “The ministry will do its best to provide assistance to facilitate the investments, such as finding land for factory construction.”
In addition to the possible deal with Yulon, VW is looking for potential partners in Taiwan to produce auto components for it, the Economic Daily News said.
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