Taiwan gears up for electric car production

Taiwan’s Executive Yuan or cabinet passed a program for subsidizing the development of electric cars on January 13. The program calls for subsidies totaling up to NT$3 billion (US$93.8 million) to spur the industry’s development. The program, dubbed “development strategy and action plan for smart electric cars,” will be carried out in two stages under the supervision of Minister without Portfolio Yiin Chii-ming. During the first three-year stage, which begins this year, the central government will subsidize the purchase and use of 3,000 pilot electric cars by 10 municipalities. In the second three-year stage, starting in 2013, the government will subsidize the purchase of electric cars directly by consumers. The program aims to help the domestic electric-vehicle industry outpace rivals in the global electric-car market, by cashing in on Taiwan’s competitive edge, especially its solid foundation in information and communications technology (ICT) and in the development and production of batteries and motors. (February 5, 2010)