Is Apple’s electric car getting closer? Certainly it is the car of Foxconn, producer of the iPhone and other smartphones for global brands. If the car by Cupertino remains more linked to storytelling than to real industrial production, the Chinese giant Hon Hai (owner of Foxconn) is ready to become a next-generation global automotive manufacturer as confirmed by the three vehicles presented today. In particular, the group unveiled two cars: Model C and Model E, and a lithium-ion bus. A move that leads Foxconn to enter, even as an OEM manufacturer for third parties, in the world of the car which now has one more actor.
Developed independently by Foxconn in 12 months, record time for the automotive industry, they will be built by Foxtron, a joint venture between Foxconn and the Taiwanese car manufacturer Yulon Motor Co Ltd. In detail, it will be an SUV, a sedan designed by Pininfarina. and a bus, thus underlining the desire to cover different market segments. Foxconn, among other things, also produces smartphones branded Xiaomi, the Chinese hi-tech giant that has decided to enter the electric car with ten billion in the next ten years. This is a sizeable but not huge figure on the automotive industry value scale.
Foxconn Model E, the Chinese electric by Pininfarina
The Model E, jointly developed by Hon Hai and the Italian design studio Pininfarina, is a technologically innovative luxury sedan capable of meeting the needs of the medium-high range of consumers. In addition to luxury and comfort, the Model E, with high performance and advanced dynamic control technology, delivers approximately 750 horsepower and reaches 0-100km acceleration in just 2.8 seconds, better than comparable models on the market. The Model E also has a range of 750km to address the range anxiety of most electric car users. “We are very proud to show the world a model that represents the best of Pininfarina’s skills and is the first step in an important strategic collaboration between the two companies. With Foxtron we share the same values, such as the propensity for innovation and attention to environmental sustainability. We now have a partner to explore the future of electric mobility together ”, comments Silvio Angori, to Pininfarina. The Model E was entirely built in the Pininfarina atelier in Cambiano, where over the years unique models, small series, showcars and prototypes for the most prestigious automotive brands have been created by a highly qualified team.
Model C, Chinese electric suv
The list of novelties includes an electric SUV baptized Model C, credited with a range of about 700 km and sports performance given the acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in less than 4 seconds. 4.64 meters long, it will be able to accommodate up to seven people on board. On the marketing front, the Model C will be marketed under the Yulon brand, with its debut in Taiwan in 2023.