Foxconn Enters Electric Vehicle Market: Three Foxtron Models

So the giants of the IT industry are starting to break into the automotive industry. Among the pioneers is the Taiwanese company HonHai, the world's largest contract OEM manufacturer of electronics (including Apple equipment), better known under the Foxconn trademark. Back in 2020, HonHai joined forces with the Taiwanese company Yulon Motor, which has been assembling cars since the fifties of the last century and is developing its own Luxgen brand (these cars have even been sold recently, but not for long). A joint venture called Foxtron Vehicle Technologies was formed, and today the presentation of the first electric vehicles under the Foxtron brand took place in the capital of Taiwan.

For passenger models, the MIH (Mobility In Harmony) electric platform has been developed, to which many other Asian companies also had a hand, and the creators call their architecture open and offer it to everyone. MIH has a very flexible design: wheelbase – from 2750 to 3100 mm, drive – front, rear or full, front suspension – McPherson or double wishbone, rear suspension – “beam” or multi-link. In a word, such a trolley is suitable for both compact and full-size models.

A number of modular units have been developed for the MIH platform. The electric motor on the front axle can have a power of 130, 200 or 270 hp, the rear engine – 200, 270, 330 or 460 hp. Traction battery capacity – 93, 100 or 116 kWh. At first, these will be the usual lithium-ion batteries, but already in 2024, Foxtron promises to start mass production of solid-state batteries together with CATL and SES. And another advantage should be its own operating system AutoCore OS.

The Taiwanese came up with the names of future electric vehicles on the model of Tesla (or Ford a century ago). The Foxtron Model C mid-size crossover should be the first mass-produced passenger model, with production scheduled to start in 2023. This is a classmate of the Nissan X-Trail or Skoda Kodiaq models: length – 4640 mm, wheelbase – 2860 mm, in the cabin – three rows of seats.

Model C is claimed to have all-wheel drive with two electric motors for a total output of 408 hp. and 700 Nm. A crossover with a drag coefficient of Cd 0.27 will be able to travel up to 700 km on a single charge and accelerate to “hundreds” in 3.8 s. Estimated price – 35 thousand dollars.

The second concept car presented is the Foxtron Model E executive sedan, which was designed by Pininfarina, as evidenced by the logos of the Italian studio on the body and in the cabin. This is a large car: length – 5100 mm, width – 2000 mm, wheelbase – 3100 mm, and the coefficient of aerodynamic drag Cd – an outstanding 0.22.

Model E has a three-seat interior: instead of the front passenger seat, an adjustable footrest for the main VIP rider is installed, and a display on a swivel leg is also installed at the back. Two electric motors with a total power of 748 hp are announced, some kind of active suspension, acceleration to “hundreds” in 2.8 s and a cruising range of 750 km on a single charge.

A full-size Foxtron Model T electric bus is also presented, and it allegedly has already passed the first stage of factory tests and already in 2022 such cars will go on regular flights in the capital of Taiwan. The range on a single charge is 400 km, and the maximum speed is 120 km, but other characteristics have not yet been announced.

Foxconn intends to produce its Foxtron electric vehicles in Thailand and the US. The Thai partner has not yet been named, but everything is already clear with the American one: Foxconn bought out part of the Lordstown plant in Ohio, which it bought from General Motors two years ago. The Lordstown company alone could not pull the development of the production of electric pickups and was forced to find a partner. According to the plan, electric vehicles of the Foxtron, Lordstown and Fisker brands will be produced at the same plant. The start of production is scheduled for 2023. In addition, Foxconn plans to become a global OEM supplier of components for “foreign” electric vehicles and by 2027 take 10% of this market.