In October 2001, Siemens Transportation Systems (now Siemens Mobility) was awarded a turnkey contract worth NT$17 billion to supply various subsystems for the Kaohsiung Metro project, including the signalling, power supply, trackwork, electromechanical systems and rolling stock.

[5] As a turnkey project fully supplied by Siemens, the initial system testing, integration and verification for the Kaohsiung Metro could be completed in a much shorter time and more easily as compared with the Taipei Metro and Taiwan High Speed Rail, which use mixed subsystems from multiple suppliers.

[6] The carbody was assembled using a fully automated production line by Siemens, with stainless steel being used to withstand the subtropical humid climate of the island, allowing for a service life of up to 30 years.

The train doors are externally slung not unlike the Taipei Metro rolling stock, are electrically motored, and have an obstacle detection system.

Incidentally, the colours adopted by the political movements in Taiwan (Generally, the Pan-Green Coalition's traditional strongholds in southern Taiwan include Kaohsiung whereas support for the Pan-Blue Coalition is concentrated in the northern areas such as Taipei) coincide with the blue colours of the Taipei Metro and the green of Kaohsiung Metro.

Rubber handstraps are used instead of the triangular plastic grab handles of the Taipei Metro, allowing for flexibility.