According to the report by Bloomberg, Apple’s long-term supplier, Foxconn is entering the automotive industry. In partnership with a Chinese carmaker, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the Taiwanese electronic manufacturer will provide production and consultation services to the automotive companies, globally.
The Cupertino tech giant is allegedly working on its own autonomous passenger vehicle, Apple Car expected to launch by 2025. The Apple Car will function like a Tesla but will deliver improved performance with a new revolutionary lithium iron phosphate monocell battery and multiple LiDAR scanners for navigation. A claim which upset the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk and he tweeted that Tesla already uses lithium iron phosphate and a monocell battery is “impossible”.
Foxconn to provide automotive services for autonomous vehicles
Recently, with the impressive success of Tesla, the autonomous automotive industry is attracting the attention of new manufacturers seeking to build self-driving cars in partnership with tech companies for software support like Google.
“Alphabet Inc.’s self-driving unit Waymo has worked with Chrysler, while Amazon.com Inc. has tapped Rivian Automotive Inc. for cooperation over delivery vans. This week, billionaire Li Shufu’s Geely struck a pact with search-engine giant Baidu Inc. to set up a venture to make intelligent electric vehicles.
Li, who is also Daimler’s largest shareholder, has championed partnerships and consolidation as a way for automakers to pool resources for initiatives like self-driving cars and electrification. He’s built a global carmaking empire over the past two decades, securing stakes in European legacy brands such as Lotus as well as investing in Malaysian auto company Proton.”
Currently, Apple is building an autonomous car system but it is not sure if the company will only work on the software or will develop a physical vehicle, Apple Car. Whichever capacity, Apple works in that will put the two long term partners against each other. It is reported that:
Foxconn, whose main listed arm is Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., in October unveiled its first-ever EV chassis and a software platform aimed at helping automakers bring models to the market faster. It plans to deliver its first development kit in April, with Hon Hai Chairman Young Liu saying EV-related business in the first half will be “very good”. Meanwhile, Foxconn’s key unit Foxconn Technology Co. is reportedly expanding a plant to develop automotive metal parts.
Earlier this month, Foxconn signed a manufacturing deal with embattled Chinese electric-vehicle startup Byton Ltd. with the aim to start mass production of the Byton M-Byte by the first quarter of 2022.
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