Giant Bicycles founder King Liu “passed away peacefully” on Monday at the age of 93.
“To Giant Group, Mr. Liu was not only our Founder, but a leader who consistently guided the organization forward while remaining attentive to the people around him,” Giant said in a statement released yesterday.
“Through a strong commitment to quality and a clear long-term vision, he led the company onto the global stage and helped the world recognize the strength and capability of Taiwan’s bicycle industry,” the statement continued.
Liu founded Giant Group in 1972 in his hometown of Taichung, Taiwan, making bikes for overseas brands such as Schwinn.
Liu graduated from a technical high school before working in several professions, across transportation, chemicals, food imports and hardware. After the loss of his previous venture, an eel farm, Liu decided to build a bicycle factory in 1972 when he was 38.
Giant initially made bicycles for overseas brands, before beginning production of its own bicycles in 1981. It is now the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world, producing an estimated 6.6 million bikes annually.
In 2013, Liu told the New York Times that he had a “mission” to make Taiwan the “capital of cycling”.
Liu took to cycling seriously in his 70s. He reignited his passion for cycling in 2007 by riding 575 miles through Taiwan in 17 days. Two years later, he rode more than 1,000 miles from Taiwan to China to promote the positive benefits of the bicycle.
“Throughout his life, Mr. Liu devoted himself to bicycles, believing they represented not merely a business, but a meaningful way of life. He was widely respected as a lifelong advocate for cycling culture and remained a deeply influential figure to colleagues, partners, and riders across generations,” Giant said.
