Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., which has made inroads in the electric vehicle market, is scheduled to deliver its first electric buses to the Kaohsiung-based conglomerate San Ti Group on March 3.
The upcoming electric buses are based on the Model T electric bus prototype unveiled by Hon Hai and its joint venture, Foxtron Vehicle Technologies Co., with Taiwan carmaker Yulon Group, on Hon Hai Tech Day on Oct. 18, 2021.
Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn internationally, said that with the launch of the new electric buses in Kaohsiung, the city will be able to provide a new option for its public transportation services to connect communities around the city.
In July 2021, Foxtron signed a memorandum of understanding with North-Star International Co. and Kaohsiung Bus, which are under the Dan Di Group’s corporate umbrella, for an electric bus model developed by Foxtron’s MIH Open Platform for EV development.
According to Hon Hai, the new buses will join Kaohsiung Bus’ fleet after the delivery. However, the number of the new buses which Kaohsiung Bus will receive next month remains unknown.
In addition to the Model T electric bus, Hon Hai also debuted another two self-developed EV models — the Model C sports utility vehicle and the flagship Model E passenger car under the MIH Open Platform.
According to Hon Hai, SUVs based on the Model C prototype will hit the market in 2023 at the earliest, and passenger cars based on the Model E, which was jointly developed with Italian car designer Pininfarina, will follow.
After the three prototypes, Hon Hai is scheduled to unveil two EV prototypes in this year’s Hon Hai Tech Day event, company chairman Liu Young-way (???) said, adding that EVs is one of the “two next big things” for the company’s future development as it diversifies its product mix.
The other big thing for Hon Hai is the “metaverse” concept, referring to a digital world where people can interact and communicate in a virtual environment.
In the latest efforts in EV development, Hon Hai announced earlier this week that it will form a joint venture in Saudi Arabia by investing 562.5 million Saudi riyal (US$150 million) in an 8.2 percent-stake in the new company, establishing a foothold in the Middle East country.
In the U.S. market, Hon Hai worked with Lordstown Motors to develop the Endurance electric pick-up model, which is expected to begin mass production as soon as the third quarter of this year.
In the Thai market, Horizon Plus Co., Ltd., a joint venture set up by Hon Hai and state-owned oil supplier PTT Public Co., was established in early February and construction of its production lines are expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months with commercial production scheduled for the first half of 2024.
In Indonesia, Hon Hai and Taiwan-based e-scooter brand Gogoro signed a memorandum of understanding in late January with Indonesia’s Ministry of Investment, battery supplier PT Industri Beterai Indonesia (IBC), and energy developer PT Indika Energy for EV development. The deal is expected to be finalized in March.
Liu has said that Hon Hai had set a goal for auto parts to generate NT$20 billion in sales for 2022 but the goal was subject to a revision based on changes in the market.
Over the next five years, Hon Hai has forecast that the EV business will earn NT$1 trillion (US$35.71 billion) in revenue for the group.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel