Founded by auto technician, Gordon auto parts win international fame
Since starting his own business in 1986, Li Mao-yuan, Chairman of Gordon Auto Body Parts Co., has always made his own way. Despite unexpected detours and difficulties in his life, Li can still overcome headwinds to succeed.
Today, the Taoyuan City-based supplier that Li founded from scratch has become a publicly listed company on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE). Gordon was not only named one of the “Top 1000 Taiwanese Companies” in 2010 by Common Wealth Magazine, but also ranked as one of the auto parts manufacturers in the global aftermarket.
In 1969, Li graduated from the Da-Cheng Vocational High School in Yunlin County. He chose to work in a mold factory. At that time, the jobs in the transistor industry were popular among young people. Few young men with vocational degrees like Li would go to the mold factory to serve as auto technician.
After accumulating abundant experience, Li decided to set up his own business in 1986. Gordon, established in the same year, specializes in auto parts sales, maintenance and value-added services. The company’s auto parts include fenders, hoods, car doors, water racks, bumpers, rear doors, lamps, and car condensers.
Li is convinced that the key to developing and maintaining the long-term relationships with customers from Taiwan and overseas lies in “quality.” That’s why Gordon has been committed to improving product quality and developing new molds and technologies, including clinch techniques, advanced shearing equipment, automated press lines, robotic assembly lines, EDP (electro-deposition painting) system, and automatic bumper polishing system.
Besides, in a bid to improve product quality, Gordon took part in the internationally recognized quality organizations and plans. In 1989, the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), comprised of the U.S. insurers, visited Taiwan to promote its stringent quality standards and help Taiwanese manufacturers of auto replacement parts to obtain the CAPA Certification.
Since then, Gordon has actively participated in a series of testing programs provided by the CAPA. The firm not only became the first Taiwanese manufacturer of auto replacement parts to acquire the CAPA Certification, but also received the CAPA’s highest honor – the Total Quality Management Award.
To date, Gordon has the most CAPA certified products in the Taiwan’s industry of automotive sheet metal parts. Such advantages enable Gordon to lead the pack by gaining market share of 26 percent in the U.S. aftermarket of auto sheet metal parts.
In August 2004, Gordon took the lead again to acquire the Thatcham Quality Accreditation, certified by Thatcham Research – the British non-profit vehicle testing center. A full range of Gordon auto parts under the “Thatcham Quality Assurance” mark provide the foundations for entering the European market.
In addition, Gordon obtained the internationally recognized TS16949 certification from DNV in October 2005, AQRP (Assured Quality Replacement Parts) and AQRP-LAB certifications from NSF-ISR in June 2007, and NSF-APCP product certification in October 2010. Such certifications would be a plus for the Taoyuan City-based supplier to sell its products.
Apart from North America as its main export market, Gordon also actively expanded its overseas markets in South America, Europe and the Middle East. The company has been committed to the auto parts aftermarket for more than three decades, and will continue to develop a wide variety of replacement parts in the future.
Li’s ultimate goal is to offer his customers all over the world with the most applicable and durable products, so the use of Gordon replacement parts will make old cars after repair and maintenance look like new vehicles. Upholding the business philosophy of “Quality, Technology, Innovation and Customer Service,” Gordon will provide high value-added products and services to meet customer needs.
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