Foxtron Vehicle Technologies Co (鴻華先進), a joint venture between Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) and Yulon Motor Co (裕隆汽車), yesterday launched an electric vehicle (EV) model called Bria.
Versions of the model would initially be sold at three prices, ranging from about NT$899,000 to NT$1.15 million (US$28,558 to US$36,531), Foxtron said, adding that Bria is the first EV model to be made in Taiwan for export globally.
Under Foxtron’s pricing strategy, Bria prices are lower than Toyota Motor Corp’s first all-electric sport utility vehicle, the bZ4X, at NT$1.28 million, and compared with market leader Tesla Inc Model Y’s starting price of about NT$1.7 million.
Photo courtesy of Foxtron Vehicle Technologies Co
Bria EVs are to be on display at Luxgen Motor Co (納智捷汽車) showrooms and service centers across Taiwan beginning this weekend, as well as at the upcoming Taipei Auto Show at the Taiwan World Trade Center’s Exhibition Hall 1 from Wednesday next week to Jan. 4, the company said.
Foxtron hopes to deliver the cars to consumers as early as before the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February next year, it said.
Taiwan’s auto market this year is overshadowed by strong wait-and-see sentiment ahead of the results of Taiwan-US trade talks over tariffs.
In the first 11 months of this year, cumulative EV sales in Taiwan fell more than 26 percent year-on-year to 25,373 units, comprising 6.91 percent of total sales of 367,133, government data showed earlier this month.
The launch of Bria EVs followed Foxtron’s announcement last week that it would acquire Yulon Motor’s passenger-car brand Luxgen for NT$787.6 million, and that it would launch its Model B EV in Taiwan under the Bria brand in the first quarter of next year.
Under the deal, Foxtron acquires 100 percent of Luxgen, including its five sales subsidiaries, sales outlets and employees, Foxtron said in a statement.
Following the transaction, Foxtron will take operational control, aiming to build a more comprehensive EV value chain in Taiwan, spanning product development, sales and after-sales services.
The company operates a contract design and manufacturing services business model, under which it makes EVs for major car brands.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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