A motorcycle show highlighting the latest electrical models kicked off in Taipei on April 15th as Taiwan's government is promoting the production and use of eco-friendly scooters in a country with the highest scooter density in Asia.

"The Ministry of Economic Affairs allocated NT$ 1.6 billion (US$ 51 million) for a four-year subsidy plan in 2009 to encourage the public to buy electrical scooters or motorcycles," said Hsu Chun-fang, deputy director-general of the ministry's Bureau of Foreign Trade.

"That is part of the government's goal to promote the use of eco-friendly products," she said at the opening ceremony of the four-day Motorcycle Taiwan show.

The target of the show is to see sales of 100,000 such scooters or motorcycles over the next four years, Hsu added.

Earlier this month, however, leaders of local major business groups urged the government to raise the target for electrical motorbike sales to one million over the four-year period. They also asked the government to set up lanes especially for electrical motorbikes and recharging stations for the bikes in cities throughout Taiwan.

Taiwan has the highest scooter density in Asia, with every 1.6 persons owning a scooter on average, according to government figures. There are some 14.55 million scooters or motorcycles on the island of 23 million people.

As Taiwan's domestic market for motorbikes is reaching saturation, local companies have begun shifting their focus to overseas markets in the United States and Europe in recent years, Hsu said at the ceremony.

The ratio of the country's motorbike exports to total bikes produced rose from 32.94 percent in 1999 to 41.23 percent in 2009, Hsu noted.

Taiwan's motorbike companies are now facing low-price competition from counterparts in China and Southeast Asian countries, but their quality has helped them play a leading role in the industry, Hsu said.

Outside the Taiwan International Motorcycle Show, there is a small area to allow people to experience a ride on new models of motorbikes. Stunt performances will also take place in the area. In its fifth year, the show also features off-roading motorbikes, heavier/high-capacity models and motorcycle parts.

The show will run until April 18th at the Taipei World Trade Center's Exhibition Hall, with the first two days open to buyers and the final two days open to the general public. Some 17,000 people are expected to visit the event, with 195 companies from the U.S., Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Hong Kong and Malaysia displaying their products in 429 booths.