Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Merida Industry Co., Ltd. are two top bicycle makers in Taiwan who will soon benefit from recently completed research and development by the Materials Research Laboratories (MRL), under the administration of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). Applying the research that it just finished on auto-cycles powered by lithium batteries, MRL will aid Giant, Merida and other bicycle producers to develop the products. The work is further evidence of the continuing trend towards high-end bicycle products being developed in Taiwan, and low end products being produced in locations such as China and Vietnam. Indeed, one of MRL's stated aims is for "the development of key materials and technologies for high value added products in order to strengthen the global competitiveness of local industries". Regarding the bicycle industry, ITRI endeavors "to investigate advanced materials in order to provide local manufacturers with a leading edge in product development", and with this project it seems to be doing just that.

According to current reports, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs will help domestic producers to export lithium battery-powered auto-cycles and electric motorcycles to the U.S., Europe and Japan. Recent estimates place the worldwide demand for auto-cycles over the next five years at one million. Work on the lithium battery electric motorcycles is being done in cooperation with Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd. and Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. Commercial production of the motorcycles is set for the end of next year. (Report based on information from CENS)