The nation’s electric car industry should focus on niche markets, given its small production scale and the shortage of some key components, a local industry group said recently.
Most Taiwanese companies in the sector have been working to reduce the cost of battery units, which account for a big part of the overall cost of electric cars, the Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association said.
However, the companies may face long-term risks when they enter the supply chain of major electric car makers, given the lack of technology and the comparatively low production in Taiwan, the association said.
In addition, there is a shortage of some critical components such as the insulated gate bipolar transistor used in cooling units, which have been monopolized by Japanese companies, it said.
Saying that the traditional car market is controlled by several European, American and Japanese brands, the association said Taiwan is well-suited to develop intelligent electric cars for niche markets.
Taiwan has the ability to manufacture small volumes of cars and has experience in providing international brands with several key components, the association said.
Global car market sales are expected to reach 130 million units by 2030, with electric cars accounting for a 16 percent share of the market, the association said.
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