Bicycle Industry Benefits From Global Mobility Trend

TAIPEI, March 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ –

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Bicycle makers recovered quickly from last year’s downturn and are poised
for solid growth in 2010 as people worldwide rediscover the joy of cycling.
At the Taipei International Cycle Show (March 17-20), the world’s bike
companies are set to unveil the latest high-tech models that are sure to
attract even more converts.

Today, the buzzword in bicycle circles is ‘mobility’ – bikes are
increasingly seen as a vital part of integrated transport systems. Traffic
congestion, obesity, high fuel prices, climate change and the quality of life
in cities have convinced many people that cycling is a fast, healthy and
inexpensive alternative for urban commuting.

Today’s bicycles are sleeker and higher quality than ever – and they
boast state-of-the-art technology as well. Where does the innovation happen?
You might be surprised to learn that the bike industry is one of the most
important in Taiwan: of the four to five million high value and quality bikes
Taiwan produces each year, most are engineered and manufactured for high-end
global bike brands. And it’s at the Taipei Cycle Show, the leading trade
event for the global bicycle industry, where more than a thousand brands
present the lightest carbon road bikes, the hottest full suspension MTBs,
powerful electric bikes and smart urban folding and hybrid bicycles.

Taiwan’s bicycle industry had a tough year in 2009, but results for
January from the major manufacturers paint a brighter picture. Giant, the
biggest bike maker, showed an 11.6% increase in January compared to the same
month in 2009, with revenues of NT$1.52 billion compared to NT$1.37 billion
in 2009. Merida, the number two bicycle producer in Taiwan, had revenues of
NT$983 million in January, up a striking 26.2% from 2009′s NT$778 million.
Increasing global eco-conscious consumer behaviour and further technological
and manufacturing progress in the Year of the Tiger is likely to further
accelerate the recovery of the Taiwanese bike industry.

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SOURCE Taipei International Cycle Show