Foxconn will build electric vehicle manufacturing plants in US, Thailand

Starting in 2022, Apple's biggest iPhone assembler Foxconn will begin building electric vehicle plants to help offset the slowing smartphone industry.

The Taiwanese company seeks to build factories in the United States, Thailand, and possibly in Europe too. Foxconn expects to supply components for EV startups and accelerate production.

"Our plans are to begin mass production in the U.S. and Thailand respectively in 2023," Foxconn Chairman Young Liu told investors in an earnings call. "Other than in the U.S. and Thailand, we are also in talks with possible locations in Europe too as part of our global EV footprint strategy."

According to Nikkei Asia, Foxconn is in negotiations with three states in the U.S. to build EV plants, and one of those states is Wisconsin. The state was previously targeted for a chip fabrication plant, but could shift to electric vehicles as part of the new strategy.

In Thailand, Foxconn has partnered with Thai oil and gas conglomerate PTT to develop a platform for EV and component production. The U.S. plant will serve clients such as Fisker by the end of 2023.

With the "iPhone 13" production starting later in August, Foxconn remains the biggest iPhone assembler. The company's move into electric vehicles means it could be a strategic partner for manufacturing and assembling Apple Car.

9 Comments

MisterKit 513 comments · 8 Years

About 3 years ago

Foxconn certainly knows how to turn out a detailed precise product if Apple gear is an example.

rcfa 1123 comments · 17 Years

Until they have a different battery chemistry, BEVs are an environmental disaster; FCEVs or combustion engines running on CO2-negative synthetic fuels, or even natural gas (if one takes the CO2 footprint of manufacturing into account), are a much better solution.
Unfortnately, like Lemmings, they follow all a few pseudo-green apostles, who decided without doing the math, or considering anything other than CO2, that Li-Ion battery based electric mobility is “the future”.

A horrible price we’ll pay for that mistake. :(

MacPro 19838 comments · 18 Years

rcfa said:

Until they have a different battery chemistry, BEVs are an environmental disaster; FCEVs or combustion engines running on CO2-negative synthetic fuels, or even natural gas (if one takes the CO2 footprint of manufacturing into account), are a much better solution.
Unfortnately, like Lemmings, they follow all a few pseudo-green apostles, who decided without doing the math, or considering anything other than CO2, that Li-Ion battery based electric mobility is “the future”.
A horrible price we’ll pay for that mistake. :(

I was under the impression Apple was looking at LFP technology.

mknelson 1147 comments · 9 Years

rcfa said:

Until they have a different battery chemistry, BEVs are an environmental disaster; FCEVs or combustion engines running on CO2-negative synthetic fuels, or even natural gas (if one takes the CO2 footprint of manufacturing into account), are a much better solution.
Unfortnately, like Lemmings, they follow all a few pseudo-green apostles, who decided without doing the math, or considering anything other than CO2, that Li-Ion battery based electric mobility is “the future”.
A horrible price we’ll pay for that mistake. :(

Many people have done the Math. For currently available technology Li-Ion is the best option.

Synthetic fuels have a huge environmental footprint themselves, and may not be practical with droughts and and heat waves impacting feed stock and land competition for food use.

Many companies are working on alternate battery technologies*, eliminating the use of Cobalt, improved methods of extracting Lithium (from existing brines and clay deposits) in the medium term. *Many look good on paper or in small scale production, but haven't been developed to where they can be mass produced economically.

Sometimes you need to work with the world you have while working for a better future. Or to put it another way: if wishes were fishes, Jesus would have been a lot less famous.

StrangeDays 12960 comments · 8 Years

rcfa said:

Until they have a different battery chemistry, BEVs are an environmental disaster; FCEVs or combustion engines running on CO2-negative synthetic fuels, or even natural gas (if one takes the CO2 footprint of manufacturing into account), are a much better solution.
Unfortnately, like Lemmings, they follow all a few pseudo-green apostles, who decided without doing the math, or considering anything other than CO2, that Li-Ion battery based electric mobility is “the future”.
A horrible price we’ll pay for that mistake. :(

BEV may not be perfect, but we also know what what’s definitely not perfect — the current state of oil & gas affairs.

Gotta walk before you can run.