Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn has unveiled its first three electric vehicles including a sedan and an SUV. The company relies on partnerships to develop its automotive business internationally and has notably joined forces with Stellantis to design connected cockpits.
One year after the announcement of a modular platform for electric vehicles, Foxconn is concretely launching into the automotive sector with the presentation of three vehicles. The Taiwanese company is one of the world’s largest suppliers of electronic components and manufactures devices for several brands, including Apple. The newly unveiled sedan, SUV and bus are badged Foxtron, named after Foxconn’s joint venture with Taiwanese automaker Yulon Motor.
A sedan designed by Pininfarina
The flagship of Foxconn’s arrival in the automobile industry is an electric sedan called Model E. Its design was made in collaboration with the Italian studio Pininfarina. We nevertheless find the current aesthetic codes of many manufacturers with thin, horizontal lights linked by a luminous ring, a high breakage belt, almost flat surfaces and marked edges. The interior is plush and refined with a dashboard whose black coating continues on the door doors to contrast with the white upholstery, and instrumentation grouped on the large double slab facing the driver.
The car is designed to be upscale and designed for business, thanks in particular to its “intelligent” rear windows that can be transformed into screens, and to an automatic connection of the on-board multimedia system to users’ mobile devices. The opening of doors by facial recognition is also on the menu. Without revealing the Model E’s technical sheet, Foxconn promises a power of about 750 hp allowing to ship the 0 to 100 km / h in just 2.8 s as well as a range of 750 km, enough to position itself theoretically against the most efficient Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan.
An SUV named Model C
The other car presented by Foxconn is, of course, an electric SUV. Called Model C, it measures 4.64 m long including 2.86 m of wheelbase and can carry seven people. Its design takes the codes of the Model E. The manufacturer promises a generous interior space and cargo volume thanks in particular to the compactness of the powertrain. The latter is, again, not detailed, but the designers of the vehicle announce a time of 3.8 s to go from 0 to 100 km / h and a range of 700 km aided by an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0, 27. Foxconn is betting on a selling price comparable to that of an equivalent thermal model.
Foxconn’s multiple auto projects
Foxconn is reportedly currently looking for partners to produce its cars on multiple continents. The firm recently acquired the plant of the American start-up Lordstown Motors in the United States where it has partnered with Fisker, and is reportedly considering cooperating “indirectly” with German manufacturers in Europe. However, these projects remain to be specified. In addition, Foxconn and the Stellantis group recently set up the joint venture Mobile Drive specializing in the design and production of “connected cockpits” for the automotive industry.
Sources : Foxconn, Pininfarina, Automotive News Europe
