October 19, 2000

Ford Motor Co. will cooperate with Giant Manufacturing. Co., Taiwan's leading bicycle manufacturer, for the production of electric motorcycles to be exported to the Asia Pacific region, including Southeast Asia and mainland China.

Dennis Schuetzle, Ford Motor Co.'s vice president in charge of R&D Asia Pacific, made the announcement at a Taipei forum organized by Ford Lio Ho Motor Co. on the subject of leading-edge automobile technology.

Schuetzle, who travels extensively in the Asian Pacific region, said he discovered that Taiwan's motorcycle production technology is very competitive. This was one of the reasons that Ford Motor Co. made the decision to cooperate with Giant to produce electric motorcycles. The new motorcycles will mainly be aimed at female consumers.

The two companies already have a history of cooperation in producing electric bicycles. That particular working arrangement commenced earlier this year with a March announcement about the project by John Parker, president of Ford Lio Ho Motor. Production of both the battery-powered bicycles and motorcycles involves the utilization of Ford's "Th!nk" technology, originally developed for battery-powered cars.

Giant, working as Ford's cooperative partner, made the first shipment of electric bicycles to the U.S. in July, said a Giant spokesperson. Currently the electric bicycles are available in both foldable and fixed frame models.

(back to top)