Foxconn Set to Unveil Second Japanese Auto Partnership Amid EV Expansion Push
Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn is preparing to announce a second automotive partnership in Japan as it accelerates efforts to grow its footprint in the electric vehicle (EV) market, according to Chairman Young Liu.
“There are two Japanese automakers; one has already been announced, and the other is almost ready to be,” Liu said during Foxconn’s annual shareholders meeting on Thursday, without revealing further details.
The company recently made headlines through its EV-focused subsidiary, Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, which signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Motors earlier this month to supply an electric vehicle model.
Foxconn, best known globally as Apple’s primary iPhone assembler, is actively diversifying its business beyond consumer electronics. The company sees Japan as a strategic market for expanding its EV operations, especially as Japanese automakers navigate increasing pressure from Chinese EV competitors in global markets like Europe, Thailand, and Brazil.
“Japan is a key focus for our EV growth,” said Jun Seki, Foxconn’s chief strategy officer for electric vehicles, at a recent Tokyo seminar. He emphasized the importance of building strong alliances with Japanese firms as they adapt to a rapidly evolving auto industry landscape.
Mitsubishi, Foxconn’s current EV partner, is part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance — a long-standing collaboration among global automakers. Foxconn has also expressed interest in a potential investment in Nissan, as it continues to explore deeper cooperation in the EV space.
In Taiwan, Foxconn's EV joint venture with Yulon Motor, known as Foxtron, primarily serves the Yulon-owned brand Luxgen. However, the company’s ambitions are clearly international, with Japan now playing a pivotal role in its global EV strategy.
Foxconn’s forthcoming announcement is expected to underscore its long-term vision of becoming a major player in the electric mobility sector, leveraging its manufacturing expertise and global partnerships.