Foxconn Technology Co (鴻準精密), a metal casing supplier owned by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), yesterday announced plans to invest US$1 billion in the US over the next decade as part of its business transformation strategy.
The Apple Inc supplier said in a statement that its board approved the investment on Thursday, as part of a transformation strategy focused on precision mold development, smart manufacturing, robotics and advanced automation.
The strategy would have a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), the company added.
Photo: Chiang Ying-ying, AP
The company said it aims to build a flexible, intelligent production ecosystem to boost competitiveness and sustainability.
Foxconn Technology said it would integrate its precision hardware expertise with AI software to develop high-precision products, cooling solutions, and applications in robotics, drones and high-end healthcare.
Acting president Pan Yen-jen (潘彥仁) said the investment would strengthen the company’s presence in North America, deepen supply chain cooperation and accelerate digital transformation, adding that the US remains a key base for upgrading technology and driving innovation.
The company also said that its subsidiary Q-Run Holdings Ltd would acquire a 6.6 percent stake in Israel-based robotics developer RoboTemi Global Ltd for US$10 million.
In the first half of this year, Foxconn Technology’s sales soared 218 percent year-on-year to NT$71.22 billion (US$2.39 billion), driven by the launch of Nintendo Co’s Switch 2 console.
However, a stronger New Taiwan dollar eroded earnings, with net profit falling 12.8 percent to NT$1.49 billion, or NT$1.06 per share.
Foreign exchange losses dragged its second-quarter gross margin down 5.94 percentage points from a year earlier to 2.97 percent, while its operating margin fell 2.54 percentage points to 0.95 percent.
TECH TITAN: Pandemic-era demand for semiconductors turbocharged the nation’s GDP per capita to surpass South Korea’s, but it still remains half that of Singapore Taiwan is set to surpass South Korea this year in terms of wealth for the first time in more than two decades, marking a shift in Asia’s economic ranks made possible by the ascent of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電). According to the latest forecasts released on Thursday by the central bank, Taiwan’s GDP is expected to expand 4.55 percent this year, a further upward revision from the 4.45 percent estimate made by the statistics bureau last month. The growth trajectory puts Taiwan on track to exceed South Korea’s GDP per capita — a key measure of living standards — a
READY TO HELP: Should TSMC require assistance, the government would fully cooperate in helping to speed up the establishment of the Chiayi plant, an official said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday said its investment plans in Taiwan are “unchanged” amid speculation that the chipmaker might have suspended construction work on its second chip packaging plant in Chiayi County and plans to move equipment arranged for the plant to the US. The Chinese-language Economic Daily News reported earlier yesterday that TSMC had halted the construction of the chip packaging plant, which was scheduled to be completed next year and begin mass production in 2028. TSMC did not directly address whether construction of the plant had halted, but said its investment plans in Taiwan remain “unchanged.” The chipmaker started
MORTGAGE WORRIES: About 34% of respondents to a survey said they would approach multiple lenders to pay for a home, while 29.2% said they would ask family for help New housing projects in Taiwan’s six special municipalities, as well as Hsinchu city and county, are projected to total NT$710.65 billion (US$23.61 billion) in the upcoming fall sales season, a record 30 percent decrease from a year earlier, as tighter mortgage rules prompt developers to pull back, property listing platform 591.com (591新建案) said yesterday. The number of projects has also fallen to 312, a more than 20 percent decrease year-on-year, underscoring weakening sentiment and momentum amid lingering policy and financing headwinds. New Taipei City and Taoyuan bucked the downturn in project value, while Taipei, Hsinchu city and county, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung
Micro-Star International Co (MSI, 微星科技) is expanding notebook computer production in India after partnering with Indian electronics maker Syrma SGS Technology Ltd late last year, as the Taiwanese company seeks to tap into the local market. MSI also plans to manufacture some of its new gaming PCs powered by Nvidia Corp’s RTX 50 graphics cards in India, while adding more advanced and design-focused PCs and notebooks at Syrma’s plant in Chennai, a source told the Taipei Times yesterday on condition of anonymity. MSI’s deployment in India is driven not only by cost advantages, but also by India’s rapidly expanding consumer market and