The ambition lines up with Taiwan-based Foxconn's plans to
ramp up EV business to help diversify away from its role of assembling consumer
gadgets like iPhones for Apple and other tech firms.
Speaking at the company's annual Tech Day, Chairman Liu
Young-way said that along with an industry alliance known as the Mobility in
Harmony platform, Foxconn was "opening up the closed-loop nature of
traditional automaking" to halve design times and slash development costs
by a third.
"Foxconn is not in the business of selling its own EV
brand. But, yes, we want our customers to sell a lot of EVs," Liu said in
pre-recorded remarks.
The company has expanded into areas including EVs and
semiconductors in recent years, announcing deals with US startup Fisker and
Indian conglomerate Vedanta.
Three prototypes unveiled last year — an SUV, a sedan and a
bus - will "gradually" be produced in Taiwan, Thailand and the United
States, and Foxconn is currently negotiating with partners in Indonesia and
India, Liu added.
"Our heartfelt hope is that Taiwan can seize this
once-in-a-hundred years, rare EV business opportunity."
Pre-orders for the Luxgen n7 EV, built by Foxtron, a joint venture between Foxconn and Taiwanese car maker Yulon Motor, hit 15,000 in less than two days, he added.
"Despite the challenges of conflict in Europe and COVID
globally, Foxconn has maintained our EV strategy," Liu said.
"Supply chain resilience has always been Foxconn's DNA.
Our global footprint in 24 countries gives us a huge advantage to meet EV
industry demands."
The annual tech day took place on the birthday of the
company's billionaire founder Terry Gou. Introduced as a special guest, Gou
drove onstage in one of two prototypes unveiled this year, the Model B sporty
crossover hatchback.
The other prototype unveiled was the Model V, an all-terrain
pickup. © Reuters