Foxconn announces plans for electric vehicle 'Innovation Hub' in Valley

LAS VEGAS - Efforts to turn the Mahoning Valley into the “Voltage Valley” are getting another boost following an announcement made Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
A group formed earlier to break down barriers and encourage new development in the electric vehicle industry revealed that it is establishing what it calls an “Innovation Hub” near the Foxconn plant in Lordstown.
The announcement was made by Jack Cheng, CEO of MIH Consortium, which is an initiative of Foxconn parent company Hon Hai Technology Group.
MIH, Foxconn’s software, and hardware open platform for EVs, aims to position itself as the “Android system of the EV industry” inviting automakers, manufacturers, and supply chain partners to collaborate to lower the barriers to entering the EV industry, accelerate innovation, and shorten development cycles by realizing key technologies and developing reference designs and standards.
Currently, MIH says it has more than 2,500 members.
In addition to taking over Lordstown Motors, which is producing the all-electric Endurance pickup truck at the former General Motors Plant in Lordstown, Foxconn has partnered with INDI EV and Monarch Tractor to produce electric vehicles at the local plant.
According to a news release, Innovation Hub will bring together global supply chain partners to share expertise and collaborate on electric vehicle and mobility projects, as well as new technologies and solutions for automakers.
MIH says the effort aims to accelerate EV innovation and revitalize American manufacturing.
“By leveraging Foxconn’s resources and infrastructure in the United States, MIH is creating an EV ecosystem that spans the entire development process,” says MIH in the news release.
“MIH is not only a pioneer in the open EV platform, but also an expert in the automotive supply chain,” said Cheng. “There are many emerging EV brands in the US market that need the support of diverse supply chain partners. MIH can bring together top partners from around the world, allowing OEMs to communicate directly and break the hierarchical model of the traditional automotive industry. This will help accelerate the development and mass production of new EVs.”
Saying that the Midwest plays a significant role in the global automotive industry, the news release says that the region’s abundance of workers and automotive supply chain will bring new opportunities for the U.S. auto industry and economic development.
Foxconn has two factories in the US. The one in Wisconsin mainly focuses on Information and Communication Technology products and can be used as a development hub for the EV industry in the future.
The facilty in Lordstown primarily focuses on manufacturing the Lordstown Motors commercial pickups and other vehicles.
“These two factories are located along an automotive corridor that spans several states in the Midwest, which will help drive the development of the entire supply chain,” said Cheng. “By leveraging the resources of Foxconn, the MIH will be able to greatly deepen and broaden its partnerships in the North American ecosystem.”
MIH says it also sees significant potential in the Business to Business and the Business to Business to Consumer market in working with fleet operators and mobility service companies to explore new user experiences in areas such as delivery, and logistics.
At CES 2023, the MIH Consortium partnered with several companies to showcase its latest solutions. The partners include TomTom, a leading mapping and navigation company; VicOne, a company specializing in vehicle cybersecurity; Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), a provider of smart manufacturing and industrial internet solutions; GIS, which focuses on touch technology; and TIER IV, a leader in autonomous driving.
The companies are pursuing business opportunities in the North American EV market, according to MIH.