Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) said yesterday that if it decides to produce electric vehicles, it will do so in Greater Taichung.
Describing the city as Hon Hai’s “automation intelligence” base, company chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) said it has a chance to become his company’s headquarters for the production of electric vehicles.
Gou made the remark at a post-Lunar New Year holiday back-to-work ceremony at Hon Hai’s corporate headquarters in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Tucheng District (土城).
Photo: CNA
A Hon Hai affiliate, Innolux Corp, has been selling flat panels to Tesla Motors Inc, a US company that designs, manufactures and sells electric cars, for as long as five years, Gou said, adding that he believes electric vehicles are the wave of the future and a direction for the company’s development.
Hon Hai, the world’s largest contract electronics maker, already has technology in the production of precision molds, aluminum stamping and glass processing, Gou said.
The company owns a share of the Taiwanese lithium-ion battery maker UER Technology Corp (原瑞電池).
It will gradually begin producing central control systems and battery modules for automobiles, Gou said.
He said he has not yet talked with any automakers about whether to establish a production line in Taiwan, adding that he will first try to seek vertical integration cooperation with US producers.
“So far we have not yet talked with any specific clients about where to produce [cars],” he said.
Gou said that a more certain plan on the matter would likely be available by this time next year.
Hon Hai also announced yesterday that it will recruit 15,000 engineers in Taiwan this year.
A workforce of 5,000 will be recruited for Tucheng, Gou said at the ceremony.
Hon Hai has also launched a program called “Dream of Being Rich Comes True,” with the aim of encouraging young people to start their own businesses, Gou said.
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