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Oct 30, 16:35
HHTD 26: Foxconn unveils three new EVs, expanding Model A and K platforms
Foxconn Technology Group Chief Strategy Officer Jun Seki unveiled three new electric vehicles (EVs) at Hon Hai Tech Day 2026 (HHTD 26): the Model A+, an SUV derived from the Model A platform; the Model K, a light-duty truck built on a new compact platform; and the Model K+, a small SUV based on the Model K.
Speaking at Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD 26), Kazunori Tanaka, Representative Director and President of Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, emphasized that the company's core competitiveness in EV platforms has decisively pivoted toward software—spanning electric powertrains, autonomous driving, and in-cabin intelligence. Tanaka announced that Mitsubishi Electric Mobility will officially join the Foxconn family in October 2027, leveraging complementary strengths to target JPY1 trillion (approx. US$6.4 billion) in annual revenue by 2030.
BYD reported rising profits for the third quarter of 2026, but its performance fell short of analysts' forecasts. The result stems from the challenges China's automakers face, navigating price wars at home while pushing to expand to higher-margin overseas markets.
The in-cabin sensing market is entering a rapid expansion phase. Global Market Insights estimates that the market for in-cabin sensing, including biometric identification and driver monitoring systems (DMS), will grow from US$5.3 billion in 2025 to US$31.7 billion in 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.4%, with Asia-Pacific being the largest market, driven primarily by European Commission (EC) regulations and the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) requirements.
South Korean ultra-thin glass (UTG) maker Dowoo Insys is expanding its smartphone glass technology into the automotive market, developing protective glass for rollable OLED displays with a major South Korean automotive electronics company. The product could enter commercial production as early as the second half of 2027.
Qisda President Cally Ko said future infrastructure supporting autonomous physical AI would evolve beyond simply providing connectivity and power to also deliver sensing, computing, and autonomous dispatching capabilities. She also disclosed that the company's commercial drones had already secured orders and entered production, while its quadruped robots were expected to be unveiled publicly in early 2027.
China's luxury car market is undergoing a major brand reshuffle. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche all recorded significant sales or delivery declines in China in the third quarter of 2026, while domestic automakers continued moving upmarket with new energy vehicles (NEVs), smart cockpits, and driver-assistance technology.
China's cooling auto price war is creating an opportunity for the automotive supply chain to upgrade, as regulators tighten oversight of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry and curb malicious price cuts. Automakers are being pushed to compete through technological improvements and service quality rather than aggressive discounting, easing margin pressure on parts suppliers.
Foxconn Technology Day (HHTD) is set to take place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center on October 30, with "Accelerating Intelligence" as its theme for 2026. While AI infrastructure and smart manufacturing will feature prominently, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remain a major focus of industry attention.
South Korean chip designer Global Technologies (GT) has secured a place in Hyundai Motor and Kia's supply chain with its first automotive semiconductor product, a smart LED module for interior ambient lighting developed with Hyundai Mobis. The product, called ID804, is scheduled to enter mass production in the second half of 2026.
Samsung Electronics subsidiary Harman International has expanded its manufacturing operations in Suzhou, China, to produce automotive computing platforms and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), with production scheduled to begin in 2027.
Elon Musk recently confirmed the possibility of a merger between SpaceX and Tesla, signaling an ambition to redefine competition in the AI era beyond individual products and technological advantages toward integration across the entire industrial value chain, encompassing semiconductors, energy, computing, communications, and autonomous systems.