First the Chinese are coming. It’s a question of when and how. FOH can help make that happen. Automotive Insight is helping as well. One of our colleagues is well connected with the Chinese Tier 1 companies. As with the Japanese years ago, and then the Koreans and the Europeans, the Tier 1s will come in support of their OEMs. You already see it in Mexico. They will come to the US, and they will have needs for all of the services to be successful Ranging from sales representation, connections to contract manufacturers with facilities here and in Mexico, help with connections to new supply chains, assisting with manufacturing, engineering and technical support. AI provides resources in these areas including low cost engineering from Brazil. Big topics like factory automation and quality control assistance and smaller topics like corrosion protection requirements.
Second, the Chinese will require expansion of their supply chains to include all the parts necessary to build a vehicle. Looking at a bill of material for a complete vehicle, we see Foxconn’s and Automotive Insight’s networks can identify sources of many parts to build vehicles. Presently, we represent several companies and are working to expand. Next month, CW will join in conversations to assist 30 of GM’s China suppliers coming to the NA. Once we identify the needed parts, our people can go to work on sourcing – just as we have for battery components in support of Ford.
Third, we need to showcase Foxconn’s desire and capabilities to become citizens of the automotive world in North America. We will help you connect and join the networks and organizations that will enable Foxconn to make things happen– success in business. We can open the possibility for Foxconn to become known as a creator of Automotive know-how. This could include constructing a concept car showcasing how your capabilities work together for advanced technologies, presented at upcoming technical meetings and auto shows– Detroit and California for sure.
Greatest Quote– from Volkswagen’s Arno Antlitz: “The future is electric, but the past is not over.”