TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's electric scooter revolution has stalled dramatically, with sales dropping to just 25,763 units through August 2025, down from a peak of 82,483 units in 2018. The sharp decline threatens the island's ambitious goal of achieving 35% electric scooter adoption by 2030, as consumers grapple with battery deterioration, soaring maintenance costs, and dwindling government support.
The enthusiasm that once drove Taiwan's green transportation movement has given way to consumer frustration and market skepticism. Battery performance consistently falls short of manufacturer promises, while maintenance expenses have proven prohibitively high for many traditional scooter users. Mr. Lai, a local scooter owner, describes monthly subscription fees as impractical for short daily commutes, while Ms. Gao voices concerns about mounting fixed costs and persistent battery reliability issues.
Government subsidies, which reached NT$16,000 (around US$523) in 2018, have been substantially reduced, creating additional headwinds for the struggling industry. Battery degradation after five years of use has further eroded consumer confidence, contributing to a precipitous drop in annual sales figures. Assistant Professor Chao Chia-Wei (趙家緯) from National Taiwan University notes that consumer willingness to switch to electric scooters has plummeted from 68% in 2019 to just 30% by 2023.
Taiwan's scooter market remains dominated by established manufacturers SYM (三陽), KYMCO (光陽), and YAMAHA (山葉), which reported combined sales of 330,231 units in the first half of 2025. However, electric scooter growth has essentially stagnated within this total, raising concerns about the sector's long-term viability. Chiou Jiunn-rong (邱俊榮), chairman of the Smart Mobility Association Taiwan, advocates for emulating the United Kingdom's approach of gradually increasing electric scooter sales ratios through policy mandates.
