SYM is known as "Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd." in Taiwan, and it started making Honda motorcycles for the Taiwan domestic market in 1962. In '67 they started assembling Honda cars as well. Sometime around 2002 Honda and San Yang decided to go their separate ways. The scooters being sold by SYM today (Fiddle-II, HD-125/200, CitiCom, etc...) are 100% SYM designs - none of them originated at Honda. However, the Symba and Classic 150 are evolutions of classic Honda bikes that SYM had been making in Taiwan for decades - the Symba, of course, is Taiwan's version of the Super Cub, and the Classic 150 (coming soon to the USA) is an updated CB125 with a larger motor and '70's classic styling (hence the name) as well as many technological improvements over the original. For example, in both the Symba and Classic 150 the motors have up-to-date CDI electronics and emissions controls, and the exhausts have catalytic converters. SYM has also mastered the art of making high-quality plastic body parts that rival (if not exceed) those on Japanese-made scooters.
SYM also assembles Hyundai cars for the Taiwan market under contract with Hyundai.
Here's a timeline:
1954: Sanyang Electrics was established to manufacture cycle lights. The factory was a leased rice mill with basic manufacturing equipment. At that time, there were only four employees.
1962: Sanyang formed a joint venture with Honda Motor Japan to manufacture 50cc, 150cc and 160cc motorcycles and became the first motorcycle manufacturing company in Taiwan.
1967: Entered a Technical Collaboration Agreement with Honda Motor Japan to produce automobiles.
1974: Honda Motor US invested heavily in Sanyang Motors (13% of total capital). Debut of legendary Wolf 125.
1976: Successfully developed "Steadite" alloy cylinder with a 50,000 kilometer quality guarantee. Began export of cylinder heads to Honda Motor Japan.
1981: Mr. Huang Shi-Hui succeeded as the chairman, and the Hsinchu plant began production of the Civic 1400cc five-door sedan.
1989: The company celebrated its 35th anniversary and motorcycle production reaches 3 million units.
1994: Motorcycle production reaches 5 million units.
1998: Achieved ISO 14001 environmental management system international certification.
2002: Sanyang began a technical joint venture with Hyundai Motor Korea to become its sole distributor in Taiwan. Ceramic coated 125cc cylinder and fuel injection engine models were launched (a revolution in motorcycle engine technology).
2003: All motorcycles under 125cc are now fitted with ceramic coated cylinders. In October, Sanyang Motorcycles southern district marketing centre was established. The industrial machinery plant passed QS9000 certification.
2004: Sanyang celebrated its 50th anniversary in Taipei. 50 million U.S. Dollars was invested in its Vietnam Research and Development Centre. Locally manufactured Hyundai Getz was launched.
2005: Sanyang company now employs over 2400 people and is the only company in Taiwan to manufacture motorcyles, scooters and cars.
Here's a Taiwan Hyundai ad for the "Getz", manufactured by SYM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Z4Vjpckrk