Gogoro announces resignation of CEO Horace Luke

ISSUES:
Gogoro has been struggling with ballooning losses and was recently embroiled in alleged subsidy fraud, using Chinese-made components instead of locally made parts

• By Lisa Wang / Staff Reporter

Gogoro Inc (睿能創意), the nation’s biggest electric scooter maker, yesterday said that its chairman and CEO Horace Luke (陸學森) has resigned amid chronic losses and probes into the company’s alleged involvement in subsidy fraud.

The board of directors nominated Reuntex Group (潤泰集團) general counsel Tamon Tseng (曾夢達) as the company’s new chairman, Gogoro said in a statement. Ruentex is Gogoro’s biggest stakeholder.

Gogoro Taiwan general manager Henry Chiang (姜家煒) is to serve as acting CEO during the interim period, the statement said.

Photo: Anindito Mukherjee, Bloomberg

Luke’s departure came as a bombshell yesterday. As a company founder, he has played a key role in pushing for the company’s expansions at home and abroad, as well as Gogoro’s initial public offering on the NASDAQ.

Gogoro did not disclose the reason behind Luke’s decision to leave the company he founded 13 years ago.

“After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down from my role as CEO and chairman of Gogoro. This decision has not been easy, but I believe it is the right time for the company and I to transition leadership as we embark on the next phase of growth,” Luke said in an internal e-mail sent to Gogoro employees. “My confidence in Gogoro’s bright future remains steadfast. I will always be Gogoro’s biggest advocate, and I look forward to seeing the company continue to grow and succeed from a new vantage point.”

As the company has been struggling to eke out a profit, poor financial performance is widely considered to be the main factor for Luke’s departure. Losses ballooned from US$5.6 million in the second quarter last year to US$20.1 million for the same period this year. Gross margin also plunged from 15.2 percent a year ago to 5.2 percent last quarter.

As of Thursday, Gogoro’s stock price has tumbled about 92 percent from its closing price of US$14.02 during its IPO in 2022 to US$1.05, indicating that investors have lost confidence in the company’s prospects.

In addition, former employees have tipped off the Ministry of Economic Affairs about Gorogo’s alleged subsidy fraud, Business Today reported on Wednesday.

Gogoro has allegedly been using Chinese engines and key parts to reduce manufacturing costs, despite reporting to the ministry that it was using locally made parts to get government subsidies, it said.

Gogoro has received more than NT$600 million (US$18.75 million) in subsidies by allegedly faking domestic key components, the report said.

The ministry said it has received tip-offs and is investigating Gogoro’s practices. The ministry grants special subsidies to encourage adoption of domestically made key parts.