Page 39 - Taiwan Transportation Equipment Guide (TTG) - 2019-09 Edition - CENS.com

Industry News Supplier News

Inevitable Rise of EV Spurs Fuel Tank
estimates of the region reaching Level 5 Self-Driving downstream in the auto industry, especially buoyed
Vehicles is much more conservative, suggesting the by the advantages of having a strong, domestic ICT
goal could be reached after 2035. industry. Taiwan’s private ICT companies such as Maker into Classic Car Industries
TMSC, Winbond, MediaTek, Foxconn, and Delta
In the Asian region, Japan offers a more have tapped in the autotronics field with its steady LC Fuel Tank Targets EU’s Classic Car Market
comprehensive blueprint compared to its other Asian manufacturing capabilities, gradually forming the
counterparts, primarily due to its aging society and stepping stones for a comprehensive supply chain As a top professional fuel systems manufacturer about stepping into plastic fuel tank since the
the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Japan has under a domestic self-driving vehicle industry.
chosen to focus on developing an autonomous vehicle in Taiwan, and a global player in the automotive beginning of trend brought up by car makers, under
fleet and increased, stringent, safer driver assistance On the other hand, the government is actively aftermarket industry, the fact that car makers are the concern that traditional steel fuel tank would
systems. In the short-term, Japan aims to offer pushing for the legislation of related regulations investing more resources into the electric vehicle (EV) vanish in the future. However, they eventually aborted
public transportation services and highway driving in for self-driving vehicle oversight. The Industrial than conventional vehicles powered by engine around the idea of investing in products with a short product
accordance with NHTSA Level 3 standards ahead of Technology Research Institute has predicted the the world is a challenging situation that LC Fuel Tank life, plastic fuel tanks.
the Tokyo Olympics, while in the long-term, realize global market value for markets such a self-driving Manufacture Co needs to deal with. There’s no fuel
Level 5 full automation capabilities after 2030. China cars, connected cars, electric cars and would reach tank in EV, only batteries. In his opinion, eventually EV, which don’t need
has also invested in the research of self-driving car- an estimated US$800 billion by 2030. The institution fuel tank neither plastic nor steel to store fuel, will be
related technology and prompted legislation revision also holds expectations to see Taiwan build a strong Each year, the manufacture rolls out new products popular and wildly spread. So there’s no need to invest
in 2017 under government agencies like the Ministry production chain by integrating automotive software of dozens to meet its varied clients based in the in plastic tank. However, vintage car is a different case.
of Transportation, Ministry of Industry and Information and hardware, and thus, cement its role in the traditional automotive industry. Like other Taiwanese Chan stressed that he saw the potential of classic car
Technology, and Ministry of Public Security in Beijing. emerging markets.
With the regulation and enforcement self-driving companies, fl exibility and anticipating industry trend is industry. The old cars won’t die. Classic cars thrive on
vehicle laws underway, China aims to realize Level 4 one of their characteristics which makes them stand the passion, nostalgia and enthusiasm among people.
capabilities on the highway after 2025. out. LC Fuel Tank has been in the game since 1977 People who resonate with vintage cars won’t replace
rolling out AM parts for conventional vehicles from them with new cars. Very possible that they have one
Taiwan’s Position and Outlook in the Auto vintage cars to modern cars for daily commute. modern vehicle serve for daily commuting, and still
Industry own vintage cars for collection.
Taiwanese manufacturers not only have the ability Now they are strategically moving back to their
to design quality products, manage the factories, root, classic cars industry, General Manager Chan Tapping into Europe’s Classic Car Market
while they keep flexible manufacturing all the while Yu-Peng says. Most of their fuel tank selections are
maintaining quality. These firms have been exporting made out of metal, Chan said. Yet, starting in 2000, The popularity of classic cars can be easily seen in
products to the U.S. and Europe for many years, they noticed that the mainstream car makers tended to Western countries, specifically the U.S. and Europe,
maintaining tight-knit supply chains from up-stream to choose plastic fuel tank over metal. “The undeniable is but less so in Asian countries, for instance, Taiwan.
the idea that EVs will take over the car Industry in the Factories in Taiwan catering for the classic car markets
future eventually, but nonetheless we consider plastic is still flourishing, and have been widely recognized
tanks as our main contender at current stage,“ he for their excellent auto parts. However, due to lack of
explained. marketing, the local society doesn’t know Taiwanese
factories play big roles in the global classic car spare
Although LC Fuel Tank has been on the fence parts industry.

One of the reasons behind LC Fuel Tank’s
stable demands from United States, where
accounts for more than 50% of turnover, makes 39
LC able to look at the other continental, Europe.
“Our clients (in the U.S.) have faith in our
products,” Chan says, “I look forward to getting
more market share in Europe. The European
market is a challenging one, however. The
classic car industry in the region is a closed
market.” Chan said. “Brands there believe in
their own craftsmanship, local work shop, parts
produced locally by their own. They don’t find
spare parts that made in Taiwan trustworthy,
and we want to change that impression.”
Aside from offering trustworthy products,
LC has advantages over local craftsmanship,

Autonomous Vehicles team up with Taiwan’s ICT industry LC Fuel Tank Manufacture Co. offers North American vehicle fuel
(Photo courtesy of ARTC) solutions. (Photo Courtesy of LC Fuel)