Sharp wants to produce electric cars
According to information from Automotive NewsSharp is planning to enter the electric vehicle manufacturing sector. The company’s goal is to start selling electric vehicles by 2030. Sharing about this ambition, Mr. Kazuma Naito – software development director at Sharp’s Next Innovation – said that this timeline will be “quite flexible”, meaning that anything can happen.
Sharp’s ambition is not too surprising when Foxconn – the parent company that owns 66% of Sharp’s shares – is already participating in the electric vehicle market.
Sharp initially plans to sell electric vehicles in the Japanese market, which could be produced domestically or at Foxconn plants in other countries such as China.
Sharp and Foxconn once “joined forces” to produce an electric minivan.
The combination of Sharp and Foxconn promises to bring a breath of fresh air to the electric vehicle market. In fact, the duo previously attracted attention when introducing the LDK+ electric minivan with a unique boxy design.
The minivan concept was revealed and is waiting to be turned into a commercial version – Photo: Sharp
LDK+ is developed based on Foxconn’s Model C crossover. The car’s special feature is that the roof is equipped with solar panels. Electricity from the solar panels can be used to charge the car’s battery or provide energy to the owner’s home.
The car also has a separate “storage battery” that allows for two-way charging and acts as a backup power source in case of emergencies, such as power outages due to natural disasters.
The LDK+’s interior is spacious with a large 65-inch entertainment screen and swiveling rear seats. Sharp says the LDK+ is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) that can collect information from home appliances to adjust the air conditioning and screen brightness.
However, detailed specifications of LDK+ have not been revealed.
Foxconn used to make cars
Foxconn is known to have produced an SUV model that is being sold in Taiwan under the name Foxtron Model C. Foxtron is a joint venture between Yulon – Luxgen’s parent company – and Foxconn.
The Foxtron Model C has a powerful engine with a capacity of 231 horsepower and a torque of 339Nm. The car has an operating range of 505km according to the NEDC test cycle. The car is 4,694mm long, 1,895mm wide and 1,626mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,921mm. The weight of the Foxtron Model C is about 1,950kg.
However, Sharp said its electric minivan will be different in size from the Model C.
Before Sharp, Sony was another Japanese tech giant that ventured into the auto business. The company joined hands with Honda to form a joint venture called Sony Honda Mobility. The first electric vehicle from this joint venture is the Afeela sedan, which is expected to hit the market in 2025. This will be followed by an SUV in 2027 and a cheaper compact car in 2028.
While Sharp and Sony are actively preparing to enter the electric car market, Apple suddenly announced the cancellation of its electric car project in February. According to The New York Timesthe decision was made after more than a decade of Apple investing more than 10 billion USD in this project.