Robert Wu

EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Class of 2022, Taiwan
Robert Wu, Chairman of KMC (KUEI MENG) International Inc.

Robert Wu shifts Taiwan’s bicycle sector into top gear. 

Robert Wu’s desire to lead with innovative technology and to drive real value to customers has transformed his family’s once-small chain-making business into the largest bicycle chain manufacturer in the world. KMC produces and markets chains, chain links and locks to global brands in the bicycle and motorbike sectors from its 11 plants and 16 distribution centers around the world. Leveraging this global reach and influence, Robert is leading his industry to a sustainable future.   

At the start of the 21st century, Taiwan’s bicycle industry was in decline. Manufacturers were focused on quantity over quality, but they knew change was long overdue. “We realized a truth: that cost reduction is limited, but value enhancement can be unlimited,” Robert says. Uniting as the “A-Team,” the industry shared knowledge on lean manufacturing and value innovation. Robert built on that knowledge to focus on industrial transformation at KMC, playing a significant role in the rebound of Taiwan’s bicycle sector.

Sustainability is front of mind for Robert, as he believes bicycles offer a cost-effective solution to congestion and pollution. Robert’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions is amplified at KMC, which was the first chain producer in the world to be awarded a carbon footprint certification. Dedicated to promoting “Smart & Green Mobility,” Robert also champions the use of cycle lanes. He aims to not only grow KMC’s business and the industry but also advocate for a safer, more environmentally friendly world. As Robert says, “We have only one earth.”

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