Nvidia, Foxconn to build autonomous vehicle platforms

US-based chipmaker Nvidia has inked a deal with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn to develop autonomous vehicle platforms. 

As per the agreement, Foxconn will manufacture and supply electronic control units (ECUs) for cars based on Nvidia's Drive Orin system-on-a-chip processors (SOC) that is designed for computing in connected and autonomous vehicles. The ECUs will serve the global automotive market, Foxconn said in a statement.

The partnership is expected to bring large-scale volume manufacturing to meet the demands of various automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz and Volvo with plans to use Drive's artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their next-generation driver aid systems and automated cars. 

“Together, we are enabling the industry to build energy-efficient, automated vehicles,” said Eric Yeh, senior director of the Software Development Center at Foxconn. 

Foxconn, best known for building iPhones, has made inroads to the electric vehicle market only recently. In 2021, it announced that it would be building an EV factory in the US by 2023 before debuting an EV platform and three electric vehicles -- the Model E luxury sedan, Model C SUV and the Model T electric bus -- under its new "Foxtron" brand. 

On November 9, 2021, Foxconn acquired Lordstown Motors' Ohio manufacturing plant to help realise production of the Endurance electric pickup. It has also forged a partnership to build Fisker's Project Pear electric SUV and added the Model V pickup to its own prospective portfolio. 

Companies developing electric and autonomous cars are struggling to bring products to the market in recent years owing to rising costs and difficulties in ramping up production. However, Nvidia sees a market opportunity of $300 billion in the automotive sector and reported revenue of $251 million in the third quarter from the segment, as reported by Reuters. 

The chipmaker is already working on its next-generation automotive SoC called Nvidia Drive Thor, which was announced in September last year and is expected to begin reaching vehicles by 2025.