The company behind the iPhone states that they have identified a U.S. customer who will start offering the Foxconn-produced Model C sometime this year.
- Foxconn plans to introduce a U.S.-specific edition of its Model C shortly.
- The car will not carry a Foxconn label; rather, it will be marketed under a different brand due to being manufactured through an agreement.
- The production is anticipated to occur at the ex-Lordstown Motors facility in Ohio.
Foxconn— Indeed, the very same corporation that manufactures the iPhone you may be using to read this. — is getting ready to make a significant impact in the American electric vehicle (EV) market. Similar to its collaboration with Apple, the company intends to manufacture the product while allowing another entity to handle marketing and sales.
The major Taiwan-based technology company has recently disclosed plans to introduce its initial electric vehicle (EV) model targeting the US market—the Foxtron Model C. However, keep in mind that this won’t be sold directly as a “Model C” at dealerships. Rather, they will employ an established automotive sector strategy known as contract manufacturing. This approach means the Model C will hit the market under an unspecified new brand identity. Consider Fisker Ocean – produced by Magna —hopefully much improved.
The news about the Model C being launched in the U.S. market under another car manufacturer has been shared by Jun Seki, who previously worked at Nissan and currently leads Foxconn’s electric vehicle division. According to a report from Automotive News Seki verified during a casual discussion at the Taipei Mobility Mega Show that the brand's objectives were as stated.
Here's the scoop from Automotive News :
The firm has a United States-based client, and the customer plans to begin sales of the Model C later this year, according to him.
Seki declined to name the customer, keeping with Foxconn’s canon of confidentiality as a contract manufacturer. But the U.S.-spec crossover grabbing eyeballs at this month’s Taiwan 360° Mobility Mega Show foreshadows what’s in store. It has a wavy side crease, funky hood air vent, wraparound headlamps, panoramic sunroof and huge vertical infotainment screen.
Certainly, Foxconn is entering the global automotive sector amidst growing rumors that it might receive significant support from teaming up with Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., or possibly collaborating with all three, to develop upcoming software-defined electric vehicles.
Here’s the deal: The Model C is already available globally due to clever branding tactics. In its native Taiwanese market, where Foxconn operates, this model goes by a different name; it's known as the Luxgen n7 But in today’s climate, with ongoing geopolitical tensions and tariffs generating frequent headlines, it seems improbable that Foxconn would simply bring the Taiwanese-produced Model C into the United States, doesn’t it?
Exactly. That’s because they’re establishing their operations in an abandoned factory in Lordstown, Ohio. Yes, this is precisely the facility where General Motors previously produced vehicles such as the Chevy Cavalier, Cobalt, and numerous other GM models dating all the way back to the late 1960s (including the Chevy Bel Air and Impala among others). GM offloaded the plant to the defunct company, Lordstown Motors, sold the facility to manufacturing collaborator Foxconn in 2022 .
Foxconn has had been wanting to enter the electric vehicle market for some time now It’s logical when we consider the company's remarkable supply chain abilities: from batteries to electronic systems, even electric vehicle motors. In fact, they manufacture about half of the parts required for building an electric vehicle. This gives them the advantage of transforming a clean slate into a finished product according to a timeline that many original equipment manufacturers can barely imagine achieving.
It’s still unclear which brand will handle the sale of Foxconn’s Model C in the United States. However, Foxconn has already done this. chose Mitsubishi to market its Model B in Australia Although neither company has officially confirmed any such updates for the U.S. market yet, all we have learned so far is that Foxconn mentioned they have a client in the United States planning to release the Model C before the end of this year. Additionally, their plant might be capable of manufacturing up to around 500,000 vehicles annually. along with some fully electric farm tractors For reference, that's more vehicles than BMW manufactured at its Spartanburg assembly facility, which heads the U.S. as the top automotive exporter by value .
Considering the current challenges with electric vehicle production—such as disorganization, high costs, and unpredictability—it wouldn’t be surprising if other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) consider partnering with Foxconn. Many carmakers are seeking ways to localize their production due to trade tariffs. Therefore, contract manufacturing might prove quite appealing for companies like Foxconn at least in the near future.
More Foxconn News
- This Firm Built Your iPhone. Now, It Aims to Construct Your Electric Vehicle
- Nissan's 'Arrogance' Led to Its Failed Merger with Honda
- Honda May Have Still Been Able to Rescue Nissan
- Nissan States 'Communication with Honda Was Ongoing''
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