SYM Motors


Sanyang Motor Co., Ltd.
Industry Motorcycles and automobiles manufacturing and sales
Headquarters Hsinchu, Taiwan
Parent Sanyang Motor
Website http://www.sym-global.com

Sanyang Motor Co., Ltd. (Chinese: 三陽工業股份有限公司; pinyin: Sān Yáng Gong Yu Gu Fen You Xian Gong Si) was founded in Taipei in 1954 by Huang Chi-Chun and Chang Kuo An. The company's headquarters is established in Hsinchu, Taiwan and sells its two-wheeled products under the brand name SYM. Sanyang's three major production bases are in Taiwan, China and Vietnam. The company manufactures and sells scooters, motorcycles and ATVs under the SYM brand, while it also manufactures automobiles and mini-trucks under the Hyundai brand. Since it began, the company has produced more than 800 thousand automobiles and 16 million scooters and motorcycles. The annual sales revenue of the company exceeds 1 Billion US dollars and it produces about 600,000 units of motorcycles and 20,000 automobiles per year. SYM currently employs around 2,300 people in its Taiwan manufacturing plants.[1]

History

In 1954 Sanyang Electrics was formed to manufacture dynamoelectric light sets for bicycles. It was restructured into Sanyang Industry Co. Ltd. and entered a technical agreement with Honda in 1961 to begin local assembly of motorcycles, the first motorcycle manufacturer in Taiwan (30% local content).[2] In 1969 assembly of small Honda cars (N600, TN360) began. As Sanyang's own motorcycles entered direct competition with Honda's products worldwide, the relationship was terminated in January 2002 and Honda began building cars themselves as Honda Taiwan Co. Ltd.[3] Sanyang instead signed a contract with Hyundai and currently assembles much of their lineup for the domestic Taiwanese market.

Sanyang Industry was reanmed as Sanyang Motor Co. Ltd. in January, 2015. The Company has its main office in the Hsinchu Industrial Park in Hsinchu County, Taiwan. It has a subsidiary in Xiamen city, China, named Xiamen Xiashing Motorcycle Co., Ltd., and another subsidiary in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai, Vietnam, named Vietnam Manufacturing & Export Processing Co., Ltd. (VMEP).

Global operations

Sanyang is a strategic partner of Hyundai Korea and manufactures Hyundai automobiles and mini-trucks in Taiwan. Sanyang also has ties with international companies like International Truck, Bombardier Recreational Products and Mahindra & Mahindra Limited in India.

In July 2005, Sanyang launched a new range of two-wheelers for sale in the European market. The range includes the GTS scooter (available with 125 cc, 200 cc and 250 cc engines), the MIO scooter (50 cc and 100 cc), and two ATV models: the Trackrunner leisure ATV (200 cc engine), and the 250 cc Quadlander off-roader.

In January 2006, Sanyang signed an agreement with the Kinetic Motor Company of India for a purchase of 2,065,000 equity shares and technical collaboration, which will amount to Sanyang holding an 11.1% (approx.) stake of the enhanced capital of Kinetic Motor Company Limited. With Sanyang taking a minority stake, the management control will be retained with the Kinetic Group. In 2008, the two-wheeler division of The Kinetic Group was taken over by Mahindra, a leading manufacturer of utility vehicles in India.

In 2002, SYM scooters began appearing in the USA courtesy of a grey market importer SYM USA from West Palm Beach, Florida. Several hundred units were imported from the UK that were non-EPA, non-DOT certified and a rogue US distribution network developed.

In 2003 an official importer, SYM America, organized by the Malaguti USA importer, began operations selling in the Southeast and Puerto Rico. In 2004 Tomos USA negotiated with Sanyang for exclusive sales in the USA, but the deal was called off later due to some disagreement on contact details. Sanyang later cooperated with Carter Brothers Mfg. Co. Inc for its sales in the USA. Malaguti USA ceased and became Martin Racing Performance and still carried some parts for the DD 50 and Jet Euro 50. In an agreement reached with Carter Brothers Mfg. Co. Inc. the company abandoned the SYM scooter distribution project for the USA in exchange for assistance in developing the after-market go kart product and stocking the SYM upgrade lines for Carter Brothers Mfg. Co. Inc.

In January 2006, SYM signed a partnership agreement with Carter Brothers Mfg. Co. Inc. for exclusive distribution rights in the United States of America. Operating out of a 235,000 sq ft (21,800 m2) office-production-and-warehouse facility in the small town of Brundidge, Alabama, 60 miles (97 km) south of Montgomery, Carter Brothers claims to be the oldest and largest continually operating manufacturer of go-karts and off-road buggies in the world. Established in 1936 by the brothers W.W. Carter and Charlie Carter, the company initially specialized in manufacturing agricultural machinery, lawnmowers and personal gardening equipment.

On July 12, 2010, a fire destroyed Carter Brother's main warehouse and manufacturing facility,[4] resulting in the loss of approximately 3,000 unsold SYM scooters.[5] A subsequent investigation by the Alabama State Fire Marshal's Office determined that the cause of the fire was arson.[6]

In March 2011, an official at Carter Brothers Mfg. Co. Inc. made it known to the editor of the Team Symba web blog that the partnership agreement between SYM and Carter Brothers would end as of April 1, 2011.[7] Also in March 2011, Alliance Powersports, Inc. (a subsidiary of Lance Powersports, Inc.) of Mira Loma, California, notified existing SYM dealers that it had signed an exclusive distribution agreement with SYM for the western half of the USA.[8]

In October 2006, SYM opened a second manufacturing facility in Nagoya, Japan. They are known for their parody advertisements on Japanese subways, taxis and cars. Their slogan, reading "名古屋にこいや!", literally meaning "Come down to Nagoya!", is known by many locals.

In July 2014, Walter H. C. Chang was appointed Chairman of Sanyang Motor. He has been taking actions to further strengthen the company's core businesses, optimize sales channels and increase customers' satisfaction.

Models

SYM Attila in Ho Chi Minh City
SYM Mio in Durham, North Carolina
SYM GTS EVO 125i at HMS Royal Arthur in Corsham, Wiltshire

Scooters

The company has offered, or now offers, the following scooter models:

SYM T1

Motorcycles

Cubs

SYM Outback 700

ATVs

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ http://www.sanyang.com.tw/filehub/upload/34.pdf
  2. ↑ "SYM History". Sanyang Industrial Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  3. ↑ Chen, Kevin (January 11, 2002). "Honda to sever ties with Sanyang". Taipei Times: 18. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  4. ↑ Keaton, Holli (July 12, 2010). "Devastated". Troy Messenger. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  5. ↑ Henry, Bryan (July 13, 2010). "Fire marshal puzzled over discovery in Pike Co. warehouse fire". WSFA12 News. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  6. ↑ Keaton, Holli (July 19, 2010). "Arson named cause in Carter Brothers fire". Troy Messenger. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  7. ↑ Dahl, Nathaniel (March 17, 2011). "SYM and Carter Brothers - Splitsville!". Team Symba. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  8. ↑ Martin, Joel (March 14, 2011). "Lance - Alliance email confirms West Coast Relationship with SYM!". MRP-Speed.com. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  9. ↑ Joymax 250i
  10. ↑ Le Grande 200 specifications
  11. ↑ Radar-X 125 in Thailand
  12. ↑ Sym on-line showroom
Sources

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SYM motorcycles.


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