Business Today – Reported by Jing-Wen Huang
The “360° MOBILITY Mega Shows” and the “Taipei International Auto Electronics Expo” kicked off simultaneously on Wednesday (April 23) at Hall 1 of the Nangang Exhibition Center. Running for four days, the twin exhibitions feature automotive components, new energy vehicles, and intelligent vehicle electronic systems, underscoring Taiwan’s strengths in smart technologies and sustainable development.
James Huang, Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), remarked in his address that mobility has long been the driving force behind human civilization and industrial advancement. He highlighted that Taiwan’s auto parts exports reached NT$228.5 billion in 2024. Although potential tariff measures by the United States could bring a certain level of impact, he noted that Taiwanese manufacturers have in recent years diversified their market presence to mitigate such risks.
Master Bus, a domestic electric bus manufacturer, has only in recent years intensified efforts to expand into overseas markets. The company acknowledged that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff hikes on auto imports would indeed make exporting complete vehicles to the United States more challenging. Nonetheless, as the automotive industry in many countries has long been shielded by high tariffs, the critical competitive edge moving forward will lie in whether manufacturers can secure and control key component supply chains.
Facing Tariff Challenges – TAITRA’s Huang: Taiwanese Manufacturers Are Highly Resilient
“Resilience has always been the hallmark of Taiwanese enterprises,” said James Huang. He noted that over the past five decades, Taiwanese businesses have weathered numerous challenges. The latest U.S. tariffs on vehicles and auto parts, he emphasized, are comprehensive measures targeting all countries rather than Taiwan alone. Against this backdrop, the exhibition serves as a platform to demonstrate Taiwan’s industrial strength and to capture new opportunities for international collaboration and business growth.
TAITRA also launched a themed “Go America Series,” featuring events such as “U.S. Business Opportunity Day,” a “Procurement Policy Briefing,” and “From Asia to Mexico: New Automotive Supply Chain Connections.” The initiative is designed to help Taiwanese manufacturers seize emerging opportunities amid the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains.
Master Bus Showcases Electric Bus Supply Chain – First Intercity Electric Bus Ready for Launch
Master Bus, a domestic bus manufacturer, showcased its full electric bus supply chain, including chassis, body, battery pack, direct-drive motor, battery management system (BMS), and vehicle control unit (VCU). The company also announced that its first intercity electric bus will be on the road in Q2 of this year, moving firmly toward net-zero carbon emissions.
The company explained that, in addition to its current 12-meter low-floor electric buses for urban use, it plans to launch an intercity electric bus in Q2 that meets the needs of both passengers and operators. So far this year, Master Bus has received 400 orders and has successfully expanded into overseas markets, exporting 30 buses to its diplomatic ally Paraguay.
Taiwan is striving to fully electrify its 11,700 urban buses by 2030. As of 2024, over 2,000 of them have been electrified. To reach the target, efforts must be accelerated.
▲ Wu Zhongxi, consultant of Master Bus. Photo by Huang Jingwen
Recently, U.S. President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on global automotive vehicles and key components. Would this affect Taiwanese electric bus manufacturers? Master Bus advisor Wu Zhong-Xi admitted that such high tariffs would make exporting complete electric buses to the U.S. even more difficult.
However, Wu pointed out that for “independent automakers” like Master Bus with a full supply chain, the situation could be advantageous. According to internal calculations, exporting parts instead of complete vehicles would reduce tariff costs by 75% for overseas clients.
As a result, Master Bus is using this exhibition not just to showcase its buses, but to communicate to the world that Taiwanese manufacturers can help design five key components for electric buses. Through localized assembly abroad, high tariffs on complete vehicles can still be avoided.
Wu further noted that one doesn’t need to wait for Trump—many countries already impose high tariffs on the auto industry. He cited Brazil as an example, which relies heavily on road transport and imposes steep tariffs on buses. However, Taiwan’s ally Paraguay is a member of the Mercosur trade bloc, making it an ideal partner for expansion into South America.
World’s First “Level 3 Autonomous Electric Bus” – Taiwan’s National Smart Driving Team
At the Ministry of Economic Affairs' TARC Pavilion, 28 domestic companies joined forces to present 18 AI and electrification innovations. The Automotive Research & Testing Center collaborated with Taiwan's smart driving supply chain to create the “Level 3 AI Autonomous & Cybersecurity Integrated System,” resulting in the world’s first Level 3 autonomous electric bus that meets international standards.
The system integrates contributions from Elan Group, AOTeam Electronics, Wistron NeWeb, ASUS, Aaeon, Zyxel, Chimei Motors, Syuchun, and others—bringing together the full strength of Taiwan’s smart driving ecosystem. With this Level 3 autonomous supply chain, Taiwan is ready to enter the global intelligent vehicle market.
Using image recognition and radar sensing, the system enables autonomous cruise, lane changes, and obstacle avoidance. According to the center, the system complies with UN R157 autonomous driving standards and can reduce traffic accidents by up to 90%.
The AI smart cockpit monitors the driver’s facial expression and body posture in real time. If it detects the driver is unable to operate the vehicle, the system will safely pull over and alert backend systems. It also supports in-vehicle cybersecurity and OTA remote software updates to ensure system reliability.
▲Level 3 large electric buses are manufactured by various Taiwanese supply chains. Photo by Huang Jingwen
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台北國際車用電子展／成運秀電巴供應鏈：「自主車廠」不怕關稅更有競爭力！台灣2千億零件出口如何解 - 今周刊