The firm has also been rumored to be preparing to introduce a higher level of autonomous driving technology in 2022.
According to media platform Nikkei Asia, Apple's supplier and assembler Foxconn Group will launch an Electric Vehicle platform in 2021. The platform is equipped with an advanced driver assistance system that reaches L2. This technology is compatible with similar technology used by Tesla and Nissan.
In October 2020, Foxconn launched its first electric vehicle chassis platform, MIH, and its corresponding software platform. Foxconn stated that MIH will become an independent entity by July 2021.
It is reported that Foxconn's MIH project includes close to 1,700 partners, which aims to lower the entry barrier for the electric vehicle market. According to Foxconn, the MIH project can 'recalibrate the electric vehicle market,' with the goal of reducing the time and resource investment in the development of electric vehicles.
Foxconn founder and chief technology officer, Shinpei Kato, revealed that Foxconn's next-generation electric vehicle package is expected to support L4 autonomous driving technology. Tier IV's own driverless car open-source operating system Autoware is also expected to be ready to go on the market at the same time.
Participating companies in the Foxconn MIH project include Arm Holdings, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Texas Instruments and CATL.
It is worth noting that, in 2013, Foxconn became a supplier of luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, supplying automotive electronic equipment including in-vehicle entertainment equipment and automotive electric machinery. In 2014, Foxconn, Tencent and Harmony Auto established a firm, but due to differences over concepts in development, the three parties withdrew and left the market.
In 2018, Foxconn invested in the Series B financing of Xpeng Motors. In 2019, Foxconn withdrew at the original price. In October 2020, Foxconn announced that it would enter the field of electric vehicle manufacturing, with the goal of seizing 10% of the market in five years.