King Liu (2 July 1934 – 16 February 2026) was a Taiwanese businessman who was the founder of bicycle manufacturer Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Liu was born in central Taiwan on 2 July 1934. He worked for his father’s trading and food manufacturing business for some time, and later invested in the logistics and aquaculture industries, namely trucking, importing fish feed, and eel farming. After a series of failure, he decided to found Giant in 1972.[1]
Liu was not a cyclist himself before founding Giant,[2] although he did ride bicycles to work in the early years of the company.[3] In 2007, at age 73, he rode around Taiwan on a bicycle,[4] and at age 75 he rode from Beijing to Shanghai.[5]
Liu was a major participant in the creation of Taiwan's YouBike system.[6] He reduced his involvement in Giant's daily operations by 2016.[7]
Liu died on 16 February 2026, at the age of 91.[8]
References
- Taiwan's cycling 'missionary', Giant founder King Liu, dies at 91 The Mercury, 16 February 2026, retrieved 17 February 2026^
- Taiwan's Healthy Export^
- Taiwan's cycling 'missionary' and Giant founder King Liu dies at 91 The Star, 16 February 2026, retrieved 17 February 2026^
- A Maker of Bikes Now Makes a Point of Riding Them The New York Times^
- Culture giant: King Liu's goals go beyond sales^
- Cycling Paradise^
- Anne-Marije Rook. Giant Bicycles founder King Liu dies at 93 Cycling Weekly, 16 February 2026, retrieved 17 February 2026^
- Chih-yi Tseng, Frances Huang. King Liu, founder of Taiwan bicycle brand Giant, dies at 93 16 February 2026, retrieved 16 February 2026^