Foxconn and SoftBank Have New Plans for Former EV Factory
Foxconn’s chairman, Young Liu, announced on Monday that Foxconn and SoftBank will manufacture data centre equipment in partnership. This collaboration will take place at Foxconn’s former electric vehicle plant in Lordstown, Ohio. The initiative is part of the Stargate project, which aims to support the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the US.
SoftBank has now acquired the Lordstown site. Despite the sale, Foxconn will continue to operate there through a new venture formed with SoftBank. Liu shared this development while speaking to reporters.
Stargate: A Major Investment in US AI
Stargate is a joint venture involving SoftBank, OpenAI—the creator of ChatGPT—and Oracle. The project was first announced in January by US President Donald Trump. At the time, he revealed that the companies plan to invest up to $500 billion into AI-related infrastructure in the country.
This project highlights growing interest in AI and the need for advanced data processing equipment. By using the former EV factory, the companies aim to accelerate production and development in this field.
Tariffs Pose Challenges for Taiwanese Industry
Liu also addressed concerns about tariffs introduced by the Trump administration. As the head of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association, he noted that many of its members could be impacted.
He emphasised the importance of working closely with the government. “We’ll need to collaborate with the government closely and hope to bring the effects down, especially to the smaller businesses,” Liu said during a media briefing in Taipei.
with inputs from Reuters
