Inquiry
Foxconn, the tech giant known for manufacturing phones and consoles, has taken a bold step into the automotive industry. The company's car division, Foxtron, is developing a prototype vehicle, marking its entry into the competitive world of electric and autonomous vehicles.
Spy shots of the Foxtron prototype have emerged, revealing a sporty shooting-brake design, large Foxtron lettering in the intake, a front lightbar, and large rims. However, further details about the type of vehicles Foxconn will manufacture are yet to be disclosed.
Foxtron's strategy for open-sourcing the car manufacturing process is unique. It focuses on leveraging a modular, software-defined vehicle platform combined with collaborations and ecosystem openness to drive innovation and scalability. The aim is to build smart electric vehicles by integrating Foxconn’s deep expertise in electronics manufacturing with AI-centric software development.
Key aspects of this strategy include the development of an AI-centric automotive platform (EV.OS), which is software-defined and open. This platform is built in partnership with global software leaders to accelerate vehicle software evolution and integration. Foxtron also embraces modular design principles, allowing components and subsystems to be rapidly developed, tested, and integrated.
Foxtron positions itself as part of a broader smart manufacturing and smart city ecosystem, leveraging Foxconn’s manufacturing scale and vertical integration capabilities. This integration supports open innovation across the supply chain and with technology partners.
Although Foxconn has faced some setbacks, such as selling its former GM EV factory due to EV market challenges, the company is still focusing on collaborating with technology leaders like Google and others to foster open autonomy and smart vehicle capabilities.
Foxconn is navigating the car industry using the MIH platform, developed in collaboration with Yulong Motors (Luxgen). The Foxtron prototype vehicle, along with two other designs, is scheduled for an official unveiling on October 18. The spy shots are blurry, and no further photos are available at this time.
Foxconn's car division, Foxtron, is also attempting to open-source the car manufacturing process. This approach allows companies to mix and match self-developed components with those developed by Foxtron, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment in the automotive industry.
This open-sourcing approach is not just about sharing designs freely but about creating an open and flexible software-hardware platform architecture combined with partnerships that together accelerate innovation in electric and autonomous vehicles under the Foxtron brand. This positions Foxtron as a smart vehicle system integrator leveraging open ecosystems and modular automotive designs.
[1] Foxconn's press release on the Foxtron strategy: https://www.foxconn.com/press-center/news/2022/08/25/foxconn-introduces-foxtron-a-new-brand-for-smart-electric-vehicles [2] Foxconn's whitepaper on the Foxtron strategy: https://www.foxconn.com/press-center/news/2022/08/25/foxconn-unveils-foxtron-whitepaper-outlining-its-strategy-for-smart-electric-vehicles [3] More details on the Foxtron prototype: https://www.autonews.com/auto-tech/exclusive-foxconn-unveils-three-electric-vehicle-prototypes-ahead-october-debut [4] Foxconn sells its former GM EV factory: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/foxconn-sells-former-gm-ev-factory-china-2021-07-01/ [5] Foxconn collaborating with Google: https://www.techcrunch.com/2021/03/30/foxconn-is-building-a-smart-city-in-taiwan-with-google-as-its-key-partner/
- Foxtron, the car division of tech giant Foxconn, aims to revolutionize the electric and autonomous vehicle industry by integrating advanced technology, such as AI-centric software development and gadgets with their smart electric vehicles, manifesting a profound influence on future lifestyle choices.
- Adhering to the open-source philosophy, Foxtron intends to create an open and flexible software-hardware platform architecture, collaborating with global software leaders, and encouraging a collaborative and innovative ecosystem for electric-vehicles, consequently positioning itself as a key player in the future of technology and automotive industries.
