Taipei, Oct. 25 (CNA) The MIH Consortium, an electric vehicle alliance led by Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., on Wednesday introduced the Project X three-seater concept car, which the alliance described as its first offering in the mobility landscape, in Tokyo.
In addition to Project X, the consortium also introduced Project Y truck and van solutions for smart logistics, adding in a statement that Project X and Project Y are expected to meet demand for a wide range of purposes such as car-sharing, ride-hailing, food delivery, and goods transportation.
In the statement, the consortium said it showcased the Project X concept vehicle at the Japan Mobility Show a day before the exhibition officially opens Thursday, saying the new prototype features a distinctive fixed battery system combined with a battery swapping design.
According to the alliance, Gogoro, a Taiwan-based e-scooter brand and battery developer, is one of the current battery-swapping partners which will allow users to swap batteries through Gogoro's battery swapping ecosystem.
"As younger generations prioritize vehicle access over ownership, Project X not only infuses urban life with freedom and innovation but also offers new opportunities for mobility service providers to elevate user experiences," the consortium said in the statement.
The consortium said the collaboration with Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), a Shanghai listed Hon Hai subsidiary, has been established in the fields of In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) and Electrical/Electronic Architecture (EEA), adding FII has established itself as a Tier 1 supplier in the EV component market.
Project X supports autonomous driving and offers customization from Level 2 to Level 4, while it caters to providers delivering innovative services such as RoboTaxi and automated delivery, as well as those utilizing autonomous fleets, the alliance said.
As for Project Y, the consortium said, the solutions include development of electric trucks and vans, fleet management and energy management software, energy infrastructure consulting, and a carbon tracking platform.
"Our initiatives, especially in assisting B2B customers transition from gasoline to electric vehicles, are a testament to our commitment to operational efficiency and value creation," Jack Cheng (鄭顯聰), CEO of the MIH Consortium, said in the statement.
On its website, the consortium, which runs an open EV development platform, said it has a total of 2,177 members from 73 countries and regions worldwide.
In May, iPhone assembler Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn on the global market, which has plans to set up an EV ecosystem in North America, said the MIH consortium has first set its sights on the production of Project X before the launch of six-seater and nine-seater models in the North American market.
In order to transform itself from a contract electronics manufacturer into a company that is fully able to combine its hardware and software capabilities, Hon Hai has outlined a so-called "3 plus 3" initiative.
The name refers to three emerging industries -- EVs, robots and digital health care -- that the company is developing through the application of artificial intelligence, semiconductor and communication technologies. EVs are the core business of the initiative.
