Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Company has partnered with US chip designer Nvidia Corporation to develop smart and autonomous vehicle platforms, according to local reports citing announcements by the two companies.
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Hon Hai, also known as Apple Inc’s main manufacturing subcontractor Foxconn Technology Group, has been expanding aggressively in the global EV sector in the last few years as it looks to reduce its dependence on the iPhone maker. The company recently unveiled a number of battery-powered vehicles based on its dedicated MIH open EV platform and has established several EV partnerships around the world.
Last year it completed the acquisition of a former General Motors plant in Lordstown, in the US state of Ohio, where it now produces the Endurance battery-powered truck. It also has an agreement to produce Fisker Inc EVs at the plant. Hon Hai is said to be looking to claim 5% of the global EV market by 2025, generating revenues of NTD1trn (US$33bn).
Hon Hai is said to have signed a strategic partnership agreement with Nvidia to help establish itself as a tier-one supplier of electronic control units (ECUs) to the global automotive industry using Nvidia’s Drive Orin platform. Nvidia said Hon Hai-based EVs will feature its Drive Orin and Drive Hyperion sensors to help provide self-driving capabilities for its vehicles.
Nvidia said in a statement its new partnership with Hon Hai will strengthen its position as a global supplier of chips for intelligent vehicles, while also allowing Hon Hai to speed up in a cost-effective way its introduction of smart EVs by using its Drive Orin/Hyperion chip sets.
Eric Yeh, senior director at Hon Hai’s software development centre, confirmed in a statement “this strategic cooperation with Nvidia will strengthens Foxconn’s ability to develop intelligent driving solutions. Together, we are enabling the industry to build energy-efficient, automated vehicles”.
Hon Hai said the partnership will help it provide self-driving solutions based on a “contract design and manufacturing service” business model.
