Foxconn Launches Open Platform for Electric Vehicles

Dubbed MIH, the new solution aims to facilitate the development of EV solutions by creating software and hardware separation and enabling an open ecosystem.

Together with the unveiling of MIH, the Foxconn Research Institute also announced ten technology research and development programs in Taiwan.

 

An electric vehicle prototype shown at the Hon Hai Technology Day earlier this month. Image used courtesy of Foxconn.

 

Foxconn Technology, formerly Hai Hon Precision Industries, is a multinational electronics contract manufacturer with headquarters in Tucheng, New Taipei City.

Foxconn is behind the manufacturing of products like the iPhone 11, Xiaomi devices, and PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The majority of the company’s factories are located in Asia, but Foxconn also has plants in Brazil, India, Europe, and Mexico. Notable customers include Acer, Amazon, Apple, and Google, among others.

“Our vision at Foxconn is to work with leading customers around the world to create an interconnected world with smart technologies,” explained Young Liu, Chairman of Foxconn Technology Group.

 

The MIH Platform

The new solution for EV development products has been unveiled by Foxconn as part of the company’s “3+3=∞” vision.

The new strategy hints at the infinite possibilities the MIH is capable of creating for the EV industry.

IN practical terms, however, MIH is essentially a framework designed to enable automobile manufacturers to develop EVs for different car models.

 

Young Liu, Chairman of Foxconn Technology Group, speaking  at the Hon Hai Technology Day earlier this month. Image used courtesy of Foxconn.

 

In other words, by creating an open ecosystem and allowing developers access to key technologies and tools, Foxconn aims at reducing the entry barriers to the industry. Commenting on the news, the company said it aims at positioning MIH as the “Android system of the EV industry”.

Foxconn also mentioned plans to expand the new platform’s capabilities with the collaboration of its partners to create a “software-defined” open ecosystem for the EV manufacturing industry.

 

Facilitating Electric Vehicle Development 

At the Hon Hai Technology Day, Foxconn also announced the developments of new EV components and parts.

The news is the latest in a series of moves towards the manufacturing of EV components.

In January, the company revealed a joint venture with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, predicting the shipment of EVs within two years.

Just a month later, Foxconn started a joint venture with Yulon Motor, one of Taiwan’s largest automakers.

Now, Foxconn has confirmed plans to release a commercialized solid-state battery by 2024. EV products are also going to be a focus of some of the 10 technology research and development programs the company teased at the event.

These will include a high computing engine platform, IoT chip design with ultra-low energy consumption, hardware safety mechanism for ECU chips for automobiles, and quantum computers for silicon industry development.

“Foxconn continues to be committed to the research and development of next-generation technologies in new industry sectors, products, and manufacturing processes,” Liu said.

The programs will be overseen by the Foxconn Research Institute, an institution set up by the company in July to work on the latest technologies, including 5G telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

“We founded the Foxconn Research Institute to accelerate the conceptualization and development of new technologies for businesses, products, and manufacturing processes,” Liu concluded.