Councilor Concerned About Costco Taichung Site Evaluation; City Government: Steadily Advancing
Taichung City Councilor Chen Ting-hsiu expressed concern over Costco's expansion plans in Taichung. The city government stated that the overall plan is steadily advancing, but the proposed site at the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" was rejected by the Ministry of Interior's urban planning committee. However, the plan for a coastal location in Taichung has secured Costco's agreement for a 40-year land use period. Final investment plans await confirmation from Costco's US headquarters.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 20:13
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 20:32 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 20:42 (10 min after Collected)
TAICHUNG (CNA) – Costco's expansion plans in Taichung City have drawn attention, with independent Taichung City Councilor Chen Ting-hsiu today inquiring about the evaluation of Costco's new sites. The city government stated that the overall plan is steadily advancing, and further details will be announced after Costco's US headquarters confirms the investment plan.
Costco currently has two branches in Taichung City. Chen Ting-hsiu, during a financial and economic business inquiry at the Taichung City Council, expressed concern about Costco's site evaluation in Taichung. He pointed out that the city government had previously announced that Costco's Greater China Director personally visited Mayor Lu Shiow-yen and expressed optimism about Taichung's development potential, intending to open a third store in Taichung, and even up to six branches, but he was unaware of the current progress of the site evaluation.
Chen Ting-hsiu stated that the city government had previously announced that Costco was evaluating the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site in Xitun District for its third store. However, it is understood that this case was recently submitted to the Ministry of Interior's Urban Planning Committee but was rejected and returned, raising questions about whether the site evaluation is stalled. Regarding Costco's proposal for a coastal site in Taichung, the Port Company promised that the land use period could be extended from the original 20 years to 40 years, which Costco agreed to.
Taichung City Economic Development Bureau Director Chang Feng-yuan responded that the Ministry of Interior's review panel rejected the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site because its application was for a research and development center. The plan needs to strengthen its arguments in this regard.
Regarding Costco's Taichung coastal store plan, the city's Economic Development Bureau explained that Costco is maintaining contact with the Taichung Port Branch Office and continues to evaluate and discuss relevant investment locations. The overall plan is steadily advancing, and further details will be officially announced after Costco's US headquarters confirms the investment plan. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 2026-04-15
Costco currently has two branches in Taichung City. Chen Ting-hsiu, during a financial and economic business inquiry at the Taichung City Council, expressed concern about Costco's site evaluation in Taichung. He pointed out that the city government had previously announced that Costco's Greater China Director personally visited Mayor Lu Shiow-yen and expressed optimism about Taichung's development potential, intending to open a third store in Taichung, and even up to six branches, but he was unaware of the current progress of the site evaluation.
Chen Ting-hsiu stated that the city government had previously announced that Costco was evaluating the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site in Xitun District for its third store. However, it is understood that this case was recently submitted to the Ministry of Interior's Urban Planning Committee but was rejected and returned, raising questions about whether the site evaluation is stalled. Regarding Costco's proposal for a coastal site in Taichung, the Port Company promised that the land use period could be extended from the original 20 years to 40 years, which Costco agreed to.
Taichung City Economic Development Bureau Director Chang Feng-yuan responded that the Ministry of Interior's review panel rejected the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site because its application was for a research and development center. The plan needs to strengthen its arguments in this regard.
Regarding Costco's Taichung coastal store plan, the city's Economic Development Bureau explained that Costco is maintaining contact with the Taichung Port Branch Office and continues to evaluate and discuss relevant investment locations. The overall plan is steadily advancing, and further details will be officially announced after Costco's US headquarters confirms the investment plan. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 2026-04-15
FAQ
What is the current status of Costco's expansion plans in Taichung City?
According to the Taichung City government, the overall plan is steadily advancing. However, the proposed site at the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" in Xitun District was rejected by the Ministry of Interior's urban planning committee. Meanwhile, for the coastal site in Taichung, the Port Company has agreed to extend the land use period to 40 years, which Costco has accepted.
Why was the plan for the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site rejected?
The Ministry of Interior's review panel rejected the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site because its application was for a research and development center, and the plan needs to strengthen its arguments in this regard.