Just when you thought the automotive industry couldn't get any more crowded, another player has entered the game. TV manufacturer Sharp wants to work with Foxconn, the world's largest contract manufacturer of electronic devices. Foxconn is better known as one of the companies that manufactures the iPhone.
Their first joint project is this study. Say hello to the cute LDK+ device. It is a boxy electric car with some interesting features inside and out. The people carrier started out as Foxconn's Model C crossover, then was converted into a van. Sharp took advantage of the huge roof and built solar panels into it to power the battery or power your home. There is a separate 'storage battery' that allows bi-directional charging and serves as a power source in case of an emergency such as a power outage due to a natural event.
The spacious interior is big enough for a large 65-inch screen and swiveling rear seats. According to the company, Sharp LDK+ uses artificial intelligence that collects information from household appliances to adjust the air conditioning and screen brightness. The huge screen in the back is not just for gaming, it can also be used as a mobile office.
Technical specifications are currently still shrouded in mystery. But we do know that the 2021 concept has evolved into a production model, already sold in Taiwan under the name Foxtron Model C. If you're unfamiliar with the name: Foxtron is a joint venture between Luxgen's parent company, Yulon, and Foxconn. The C model has 170 kW (231 hp), 339 Nm of torque and 505 km of range, albeit in the overly optimistic NEDC cycle. The electric vehicle is 4,70 meters long, 1,90 meters wide and 1,62 meters high, and its wheelbase is 2,92 meters. However, Sharp's electric van has different proportions. The Foxtron Model C weighs approximately 1950 kilograms.
Planned car sales until 2030
Automotive News spoke with a Sharp employee about the company's ambitions to enter the automotive sector. Kazuma Naito, head of software development at Sharp's Next Innovation unit, said the goal is to start selling cars by 2030. He admitted that that timeframe is currently a "loose target." With Foxconn holding a 66% majority stake in Sharp, it's no surprise that the two companies will once again work together to bring electric cars to market by the end of the decade. In the first phase, Sharp plans to sell electric cars domestically in Japan, which Foxconn will manufacture domestically or elsewhere, possibly in China.
Sharp isn't the only tech giant from the land of the rising sun to enter the automotive industry in recent years. Sony has teamed up with Honda to form an automotive joint venture, Sony Honda Mobility, which is expected to launch the Afeela electric sedan in 2025. An SUV is expected to follow in 2027, and a more affordable compact model is expected to be launched no earlier than 2028.
Speaking of tech companies that make cars. The long-rumored Apple Car was canceled in February. And that's despite the fact that they're expected to invest more than $10 billion (yes, billion) over the decade, as the New York Times recently reported.