COMPANYHISTORIES

Taiwan

Companies based in Taiwan, and the events that shaped them.

15companies1943–2001founding years14still active1no longer operating
§ 01

Taiwan companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedDirectorate General of Telecommunications
1943
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedChinese Petroleum Corporation
1946
TechnologyENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedFormosa Plastics Corporation
1954
1955
EconomyMcDonald's franchising begins, remaking fast food.
EconomyDisneyland opens and invents the modern theme park.
1956
TechnologyThe first transatlantic telephone cable opens.
FoundedTatung Co.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedChina Airlines
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedHon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedAcer Inc.
1976
FoundedYageo Corporation
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedFirst International Computer, Inc.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
TechnologyThe first US in-vitro fertilization baby is born.
FoundedBenQ Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEvergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.FoundedTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedQuanta Computer Inc.
1988
FoundedEVA Airways Corporation
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1999
TechnologyNapster ignites the digital disruption of recorded music.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
TechnologyGPS opens to civilian use, turning location into a utility.
FoundedAU Optronics Corporation
2001
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Directorate General of Telecommunications →
Active · founded 1943 · Republic of China
Initially developed as a telegraph service for the military over 100 years ago, Taiwan's Directorate General of…
Chinese Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1946 · Republic of China
Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is a state-owned enterprise that is responsible for the Republic of China's…
Formosa Plastics Corporation →
Active · founded 1954 · Taiwan
A pioneer of the Taiwanese plastics industry, Formosa Plastics Corporation is the world's largest producer and…
Tatung Co. →
Active · founded 1957 · Taiwan
With ten domestic plants and nearly 20,000 employees, Tatung Co.
China Airlines →
Active · founded 1959 · Taiwan
Although China Airlines (CAL) became something of a pariah when the United Nations recognized the People's Republic of…
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1974 · Taiwan
The company launched the communications branch of its new strategy in 2001 by entering the mobile telephone market.
Acer Inc. →
Active · founded 1976 · Taiwan
Called "the region's most impressive technology company" in a 1996 article in The Economist, Acer Inc.
Yageo Corporation →
Active · founded 1977 · Taiwan
With an estimated two percent share of the US$4 billion global market for electronic resistors, Taiwan's Yageo…
First International Computer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980 · Taiwan
Taiwan-based First International Computer, Inc.
BenQ Corporation →
Active · founded 1984 · Taiwan
Once the contract manufacturing arm of Taiwan's Acer Computer Corporation, BenQ Corporation has come into its own as a…
Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Taiwan
With more than 130 owned and long-term chartered ships, Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Taiwan
When Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.
Quanta Computer Inc. →
Active · founded 1988 · Taiwan
Quanta Computer Inc.
EVA Airways Corporation →
Active · founded 1989 · Taiwan
EVA Airways Corporation, or EVA Air, is Taiwan's second largest airline.
AU Optronics Corporation →
Defunct · founded 2001 · Taiwan
AU Optronics Corporation is Taiwan's largest producer of flat panel displays--that is, thin film transistor liquid…
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