A-Team Gathers in Taipei

TAIPEI, Taiwan – The members of the Taiwanese industry association A-Team gathered Wednesday morning at their 2009 general meeting. The new chairman Michael Tseng expressed a positive mood by presenting the 2008 sales figures of the participating Taiwanese members and foreign sponsor members.

Last year the number of exported bicycles by the Taiwanese A-Team members increased by 1.25% to 5.4 million units. The average price of these bikes upped by 15.75% to US$ 257, while the total export value made a huge leap in value from US$ 1.056.000 to US$ 1.392.000, an increase of 32%.

“These growth figures are a direct result of our call some years ago to set up R&D departments and high end bicycle production in Taiwan instead of moving these to mainland China”, said A-Team chairman and Merida CEO Michael Tseng.

“The global economic situation is a big challenge for any industry sector, also for the bicycle industry”, stated Tseng. “Our major strength is the implementation in the past six years of the TPS (Toyota Production System), TQM (Total Quality Management) and TPM (Total Productive Management).” A second major boost to the Taiwanese industry came from the local market. Like out of nowhere cycling for leisure has become a very important meaning to go out in the evening and weekends.

To promote the member companies the A-Team has decided to launch an A-Team bike, specified with components supplied solely by A-Team member companies. These bikes will only be sold in Taiwan and promoted one different shows and events.