Energy & Technology

Foxtron, an automaker partially owned by Taiwan’s Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), has announced a strategic collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors to develop an electric vehicle (EV) for the Australian and New Zealand markets. The partnership was confirmed on Wednesday, marking a significant step in Foxconn’s ambitions to enter the EV sector. Hon Hai, best known as the manufacturer of Apple’s iPhone, is among several technology firms diversifying into the electric vehicle industry by leveraging their expertise in electronics and automotive supply chains. Foxtron, a joint venture between Hon Hai and Taiwan’s Yulon Motor Co., aims to produce the new EV at Yulon’s facilities. The vehicle is expected to debut in Oceania in the second half of 2026. The companies did not disclose financial details, noting that the memorandum of understanding will be followed by further discussions. Foxtron’s involvement in EV production aligns with Mitsubishi’s strategic goal to transition its entire lineup to EVs or hybrids by 2035, as Japanese automakers respond to competition from Chinese rivals. Earlier speculation suggested that Hon Hai might pursue a partnership with Nissan following unsuccessful merger talks between Nissan and Honda. However, the latest agreement focuses on the collaboration with Mitsubishi, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to expanding their EV portfolios. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year, Foxtron showcased its Model B EV hatchback, alongside its range of automotive electronics. The company’s current lineup features 11 vehicle models, including the Model T bus, Model V pickup truck, Model N van, and the Model E luxury sedan. As Foxtron and Mitsubishi continue to develop their partnership, the planned EV for Oceania reflects both firms’ ambitions to capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable transport solutions. –Japan Today

HONG KONG : Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) is deploying its dedicated private cloud platform, HCloud, within Equinix data centers globally to enhance customer experience and improve service quality for its more than 10 million connected car service subscribers. HCloud is the Group’s proprietary cloud platform that was developed in response to the growing demand for real-time data processing, seamless connectivity and scalable infrastructure, driven by rapid advancements in connected and autonomous vehicles. The Group is leveraging Equinix International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data centers across Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as Equinix Fabric®, to interconnect HCloud to multiple public cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS). This hybrid multicloud architecture accelerates the global rollout of connected car services while ensuring reliable connectivity, consistent service coverage and reduced latency. Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that comprises the mobility brands—Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis. The Group’s CCS provides in-car infotainment and mobile applications via wireless networks. Since its launch in 2003, the Group has acquired over 10 million global CCS subscribers as of 2023 and is aiming to reach 20 million by 2026. To continue the growth, it is making significant investments in the development and expansion of HCloud to deliver enhanced in-car services, including a personalized driving experience. As 95% of new vehicles are expected to be connected by 2030, 1 the Group recognized the need for distributed data processing and proximity to cloud and network ecosystems to ensure an excellent user experience. This led to the deployment of the HCloud in Equinix IBX data centers in Seoul, Los Angeles and Frankfurt, strategically selected for their global reach, carrier density and high operational standards backed by service-level agreements (SLAs). Equinix’s proximity to major cloud and network providers will enable the Group to connect with key partners, while supporting robust performance and scalability. Through its deployment at Equinix, the Group has enhanced app responsiveness and improved the quality of its remote services. The collaboration supports the company’s transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and lays the foundation for smarter, safer and more connected mobility solutions. “By leveraging Equinix’s global data centers, we are providing high-quality connected car service and improving user experience through reduced latency, stable global connectivity and enhanced scalability of our HCloud platform. The partnership with Equinix is taking us a step closer to becoming the global leader in connected car services. We look forward to continuing this journey with Equinix to sustain the momentum of our growing connected car ecosystem worldwide.” – Youngjoo Han, Vice President and Head of IT Infra Center, Hyundai Motor Group “The future of the automotive industry lies in connected cars. Through a hybrid multicloud infrastructure, auto manufacturers can take advantage of cloud services while maintaining the flexibility to choose between secure, dedicated colocation infrastructure and highly scalable cloud services for each workload they support. Equinix with its global footprint, offers not only the necessary infrastructure but also an interconnected digital ecosystem and network-dense infrastructure. This can enable Korean companies, including Hyundai Motor, to accelerate their digital transformation and optimize the customer experience.” – Chris Jang, Managing Director, Equinix Korea

JAKARTA: Indonesia is set to become a hub for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing as seven global automakers have expressed plans to establish production facilities in the country, according to Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani. Speaking to reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday, Rosan said several companies had already formalised their investment commitments and commenced factory construction. The list includes prominent automakers such as China’s BYD, France’s Citroën, Chinese brands Aion and Gili, Maxus, Germany’s Volkswagen, and Vietnam’s VinFast. The cumulative investment value of these projects is estimated to reach Rp 15.4 trillion (approximately $911 million), with a combined production capacity of up to 281,000 vehicles annually. “These seven EV producers have confirmed their plans to relocate investment and have already started construction, totalling Rp 15.4 trillion,” Rosan stated. The minister highlighted Indonesia’s rapid growth in EV sales, noting that sales in 2024 more than doubled compared to the previous year. With this momentum, he stressed the importance of building a robust domestic EV manufacturing base to avoid relying solely on imports. “The growth is highly significant. We must strengthen the ecosystem so Indonesia doesn’t end up merely being a consumer market,” Rosan said. Indonesia’s EV sector is experiencing an upward investment trend, driven by the country’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner. This ambitious goal has spurred the acceleration of EV adoption, making Indonesia increasingly attractive to global investors. Additionally, the country’s abundant natural resources, including nickel and bauxite used in EV battery production, are seen as a competitive advantage that bolsters investor confidence. Rosan pointed out that EV sales in Indonesia grew by 153% year-on-year in 2024, with the market share of electric cars rising from 1.7% in 2023 to 5% of total vehicle sales. This significant increase underscores the potential for further growth as the country moves towards greater EV adoption and local production. –Jakarta Globe

Samsung Electronics Co. has announced that its subsidiary Harman International will acquire the audio business of U.S.-based health technology company Masimo for 500 billion won (US$350 million). The acquisition will add a range of high-end audio brands to Harman’s existing portfolio, including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, and Definitive Technology. These will join Harman’s established lineup, which features JBL, Harman Kardon, and AKG, according to Samsung Electronics. Masimo, known primarily for patient monitoring devices, ventured into the home audio market in 2022 with its acquisition of Sound United, the parent company of several premium audio brands, including Bowers & Wilkins. Samsung Electronics stated that this strategic acquisition would strengthen Harman’s position in the global consumer audio market, which is projected to grow from US$60.8 billion in 2025 to US$70 billion by 2029. Dave Rogers, president of Harman’s lifestyle division, said, “Built on a shared legacy of innovation and excellence in audio technology, this combined family of brands, together with the talented employees of both companies, will deliver complementary audio products, strengthen our value proposition and offer more choices to consumers.” The acquisition is expected to be finalised by the end of 2025, further bolstering Harman’s standing as a leader in the premium audio segment. –Yonhap

Uber has announced a strategic partnership with Chinese robotaxi developer Pony AI to integrate self-driving vehicles into its ride-hailing platform, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion into autonomous transportation. The collaboration, set to debut in a key Middle Eastern market later this year, will see Pony AI’s autonomous vehicles deployed initially with a safety operator onboard. The companies plan to transition to fully autonomous operations following a successful pilot phase. This latest partnership is part of Uber’s ongoing strategy to strengthen its position in the burgeoning robotaxi sector, where it faces competition from rivals such as Lyft and electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla. In recent weeks, Uber has forged new alliances with self-driving technology firms May Mobility and Momenta and expanded its collaboration with Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide to extend services to 15 more global cities. Additionally, last year saw Uber broaden its partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo. News of the deal sent US-listed shares of Pony AI, which went public on Nasdaq in November, up nearly 13% in premarket trading, while Uber shares dipped slightly by 1%. The autonomous vehicle industry continues to attract significant investment despite the technical and regulatory challenges it faces. Governments, including the US federal administration, are actively supporting the sector by relaxing certain safety requirements while maintaining essential incident reporting mandates. Founded in 2016 and backed by Toyota, Pony AI has rapidly expanded its footprint in the robotaxi space. The Guangzhou-based company has secured licences to operate robotaxis in major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and is actively exploring further expansion into South Korea, Luxembourg, the Middle East, and other international markets. By leveraging Pony AI’s advanced autonomous technology, Uber aims to bolster its competitive edge in the global ride-hailing market, capitalising on the growing momentum in the self-driving taxi sector. –Reuters