TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The 2023 Taiwan Expo in Malaysia opened its doors on Thursday (Aug. 24) in Kuala Lumpur for a three-day run. Under the leadership of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, 170 Taiwanese businesses are participating, with projected trade opportunities worth US$50 million (NT$1.58 billion).
YouBike, the Taiwanese bike-sharing system, is among the exhibitors. In an effort to expand into Southeast Asia, the company showcased its YouBike 2.0 and YouBike 2.0E, both of which are electric-assisted bicycles at the expo. With the exhibition acting as a platform, YouBike plans to export its entire system internationally.
The Malaysian market has proved difficult to penetrate for bike-sharing companies. Singapore's previous attempts to enter oBike ultimately failed, with locals expressing a preference for motorcar transportation due to the heat. Therefore, the success of YouBike's expansion bid hinges on market acceptance by Malaysians.