As the world's largest manufacturer of customized electronics, Foxconn is responsible for assembling Apple devices, but the company is also tasked with making parts for global electric vehicle manufacturers and supplying them with a variety of equipment.
In recent years, Foxconn has been actively considering venturing into industries such as electric vehicles, digital healthcare and robotics to diversify its global investments as it seeks new growth for the company.
Recently, Foxconn announced a new architecture that can be developed for many types and sizes of electric vehicles, an open platform named MIH, which will be available for any manufacturer or brand of vehicle.
The new platform will address the pain points of the current stage of EV development through its three main features of "software definition," "software-hard layering," and "open ecology. It not only has a powerful EEA platform and self-driving platform, but also can support a variety of models such as SUVs, MPVs and sedans. According to Foxconn, the wheelbase, width and height can be adjusted under this platform. The modules are available in front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive variants, with motors ranging from 95 kilowatts to 340 kilowatts, and more specifications are available on request.
Meanwhile, the MIH software platform will be connected to Foxconn's cloud, and through the EV Kit SDK, automakers can connect it into their vehicles to control and use the battery pack and platform. The system can be updated with additional features such as remote key access or ndriver-assistance systems, and will also support fleet management and robotaxis (unmanned cabs).
Future EVs built on the platform can be continuously upgraded through "software definition," and the MIH EV platform will become the "Android" of the automotive industry.
At the same time, the Hon Hai Group (Foxconn's parent company) also announced that it will launch the first commercialized solid-state batteries in 2024. Compared with the current lithium-ion batteries in automobiles, solid-state batteries are faster to charge, and will not only reduce the weight and cost of the current liquid batteries, but also solve the safety hazards of the industry's batteries.
In 2019, Hon Hai's auto parts sales were close to NT$9.5 billion ($330 million). The company hopes that automotive and other new businesses will help it raise gross margins to 10 percent by 2025.
Liu Yang-wei, chairman of Foxconn's parent company, Hon Hai Group, also said Foxconn aims to capture a 10 percent share of the electric vehicle market between 2025 and 2027, with about 3 million vehicles using its platform.
It can be expected that the competition in the new energy field may become more intense in the future.
This article comes from the authors of the Motor Home Car Family, and does not represent the viewpoint position of the Motor Home.