Foxconn Technology Group is known to the world as being one of Apple’s largest supplier. The company helps assemble Apple’s popular iPhone and in a move where the US is trying to bring manufacturing back home, Foxconn aims to also join in on that bandwagon. First, they announced that they will invest $10 billion in a plant in Wisconsin to assemble liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. Now, Terry Gou, the founder of Foxconn, has announced that they will invest in an R&D centre in Michigan.
Michigan is a state in the US which is home to Detroit city, more known as the automotive hub where companies such as General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have their headquarters. It makes sense for the Taiwanese company to set up shop there especially when it comes to autonomous technology where being close to auto makers is a plus point.
“Automotive development in the US is still more advanced than China,” said Terry Gou, in a report to the South China Morning Post. “Besides self-driving technology, I’m also interested in artificial intelligence and deep learning technology.”
This definitely adds more fuel to the rumours that Foxconn might be heavily involved in Apple’s self-driving technology as well.
The investments into the US seems to be supporting Trump’s election promise of bringing back investments and manufacturing back to the Americans which will give the economy a boost and create more jobs.
The plant in Wisconsin hopes to be able to provide up to 13,000 jobs over 4 years.
[Source: South China Morning Post & Cult of Mac]
