The EMU900 series were purchased by the Taiwan Railways Administration as part of an effort to replace its aging rolling stock, specifically the Chu-Kuang and Fu-Hsing services, and to increase the carrying capacity of the system.

As the only bidder, South Korea's Hyundai Rotem was contracted for building the commuter railcars for NT$25.7 billion.

Investigations revealed that the air conditioning units were supplied by a German firm with factories in China, acting as subcontractor to the car builder, which was technically against contract terms as China is not a signatory to the WTO GPA (Government Procurement Agreement).

Additionally, the train's lighting can adjust automatically based on the exterior brightness to conserve electricity.

The train's interior features twelve bicycle racks, priority seats for pregnant women, eight wheelchair spaces, and three restrooms.