As the leader of Taiwan’s automotive industry, Hotai Motor (TPE:2207) stands as the first overseas distributor for Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation. In addition to distributing renowned automotive brands such as TOYOTA, LEXUS, and HINO, Hotai is also the exclusive distributor for YOKOHAMA Tires in Taiwan. By providing comprehensive after-sales and peripheral services, the company has established a “one-stop value chain,” maintaining a dominant market position in leasing, auto financing, and accessories. Since joining the Hotai Group in 2017, Hotai Insurance has seen its business grow 3.1 times over the past nine years, reaching NT$15.6 billion in written premiums in 2025 and ranking sixth in the market. In recent years, Hotai Group has actively invested in MaaS (Mobility as a Service), progressively expanding its service ecosystem to offer users more diverse mobility solutions.
In 2024, Hotai Group and StarFab co-founded the “Hotai Accelerator.” This cohort focuses on three key themes: AI-Enabled Operations, AI-Driven Decision Making, and New Business Model Expansion. The program connects deeply with the Group’s core brands and real-world business sites/resources, including TOYOTA, HINO, and Hotai Insurance. Selected startups will have the opportunity to conduct field validations (POCs) and explore potential business collaborations with Hotai Group. Furthermore, participants will be recommended to apply for the Google for Startups Cloud Program, which offers cloud credits, technical training, and curated resources.
Resources
De-identified Member and Vehicle Data
Product Testing and Validation in Hotai Business Locations
Integrated Software & Hardware Solutions
Partner
Graduates are recommended for the Google for Startups Cloud program, offering credits, technical training, and curated resources.
＊This resource is available to startups established within the past three years.
Eligibility
Legally established company (startups, SMEs)
Alignment with focus areas of Hotai Accelerator
Competitive technology and product
Proven product/solution with recent customer references
Focus Areas
AI-Enabled Operations
Leverage AI and related technologies to automate operations, improve service quality, and enhance the customer experience.
Website Monitoring & Competitive Intelligence AI Assistant: Using AI and web scraping technology to automatically generate periodic website performance diagnostic reports and collect the latest market trends in real time. (Partner: Hotai Insurance Digital Development Group)
Develop AI tools to monitor insurance website performance (including user drop-off points, improvement suggestions...etc.), and automatically aggregate market development trends to provide comparative analysis for real-time optimization of products and services.
Disability-Friendly Digital Services: For people with disabilities (including visual / hearing impairments or physical limitations), introduce accessibility technology to build an independently operable digital insurance process. (Partner: Hotai Insurance Digital Development Group)
For personal insurance products (e.g., auto insurance, travel insurance...etc.), introduce voice or other assistive technologies on the insurance website to help people with disabilities independently complete the full process from browsing, identity verification, data entry to payment.
Handwritten Commercial Vehicle Body Specification Sheet AI Recognition: Automatically identify handwritten vehicle body modification spec sheets in varied formats and standardize for filing. (Partner: Commercial Vehicles Operations Group)
The solution should use AI-driven web crawling to collect online discussions related to brand vehicle safety or complaints. It should automatically identify significant events, classify their severity, provide real-time alerts, and visualize data. Rapid and accurate aggregation of complaint information helps shorten response times in public relations or crisis situations.
AI Used Car Appraisal: Leverage AI tools to quickly assess the condition of used vehicles. (Partner: TOYOTA Vehicles Operations Group)
Develop AI assistive tools (e.g., image and paint surface recognition tools) to identify vehicle exterior damage and automatically query the existing database to estimate corresponding parts replacement or repair costs, generate a vehicle condition grading report, and improve the efficiency of used car dealers in on-site vehicle inspections and the accuracy of purchase valuations.
AI-Driven Decision Making
Utilize data models, predictive analytics, and generative AI–based knowledge extraction to deliver real-time operational insights and decision support.
Vehicle Parts Warehouse Digital Twin Model: Using digital twin and AI technology to build a simulation environment for Hotai smart warehousing, and identify optimal picking and equipment operation solutions for various scenarios. (Partner: TOYOTA After Sales Service Operations Group)
Startups are expected to build a model to simulate the inbound / outbound efficiency of tens of thousands of vehicle parts under different placement strategies (e.g., high / low turnover rates), and to validate decisions based on varying order scenarios (e.g., peak surges) and operational variables (e.g., popular shelf proximity, workstation queuing), reducing AGV travel distance and improving operational efficiency.
New Business Development
Expand the scope of innovative services and enter emerging business domains to create broader commercial impact.
Innovative AI Applications for Commercial Vehicle Real-time Video: Based on HINO vehicles' high utilization rate and 4-way camera image advantage, combined with AI recognition, to build a dynamic database for smart city applications. (Partner: Commercial Vehicles Operations Group)
Using cloud-based images from the Hotai fleet management system, through AI real-time analysis of abnormal road conditions (e.g., accidents, flooding, fallen trees), and collaborating with potential partners (e.g., central / local government agencies, map navigation providers...etc.) to co-create "smart city" solutions.
Innovative Insurance Sales Solutions: Explore entirely new sales channels beyond agents and websites; looking for innovative sales solutions leveraging new technologies or cross-industry collaboration. (Partner: Hotai Insurance Digital Development Group)
Startups are expected to propose creative insurance sales models, such as: AI-powered purchasing assistants (automatically recommending insurance types based on user context), innovative tech cross-industry collaboration (e.g. travel APP app ticket purchase flow with embedded travel insurance recommendations)...and other innovative business models (not limited to the above).
Selection Process
Application Deadline
Hotai Accelerator reserves the right to make changes to the program without prior notice.
Applicants shall be notified of changes to the program via email.
Contact: Panay / panay@starfabx.com
