TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — To meet rising global demand, Garmin, a US-based company known for its GPS navigation and wearable products, said it will expand its production facilities in Taiwan, including an automated warehouse at its Tainan plant, per CNA.
Garmin’s factory in Tainan has been expanding its production lines since 2022. Scoppen Lin (林孟垣), the company’s assistant sales and marketing general manager, said upgrades at the Tainan facility are expected to speed inventory preparation and improve production efficiency.
Garmin reported NT$59.15 billion (US$1.82 billion) in second-quarter revenue, up 20% year-on-year. Quarterly profit rose 38% to NT$15.34 billion. The company attributed the growth primarily to its fitness and outdoor segment, which includes smartwatches and fitness trackers, driving a 41% increase.
More than 90% of Garmin’s products are manufactured in Taiwan, Lin noted. The majority of chips for its wearable products are supplied by TSMC, and AUO provides Micro LED display technology, which offers higher brightness, better contrast, lower power use, and longer lifespan than traditional LCDs.
In response to the 20% US tariffs on imports from Taiwan, the company said it will focus on optimizing production efficiency and enhancing product performance to boost orders, with no immediate plans to raise prices.
At a product launch event on Thursday, Garmin unveiled a new smartwatch featuring Micro LED display technology. The device provides health and fitness data, including information on heart and lung function and workout performance.
The company also debuted a smart radar tail light for bicycles. Mounted on the rear of a bike, it serves as a warning light and uses radar to detect approaching vehicles, with alerts shown on a connected Garmin smartwatch.
Lin added that Garmin’s inReach satellite communication technology has been integrated into some smartwatches and devices, allowing users to send and receive messages and trigger SOS alerts to a 24/7 emergency response center. The service has been used in more than 20,000 rescue cases worldwide.
