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Nissan Eyes Foxconn EV Production to Prevent Oppama Plant Closure

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Japan’s Nissan Motor is reportedly in talks with Taiwan’s Foxconn to allow the electronics giant to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) at Nissan’s Oppama plant in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. This move could potentially save the factory from closure amid Nissan’s broad restructuring efforts.

Background:

Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa announced plans to restructure the company, including closing seven out of 17 factories worldwide and cutting the workforce by roughly 15%. The Oppama plant, which employs about 3,900 workers, was among those considered for shutdown.

Potential Deal:

  • Allowing Foxconn to produce EVs at Oppama could help avoid the plant’s closure, preserving jobs and supporting local suppliers.

  • Foxconn is also reportedly considering acquiring a portion of the Oppama facility.

  • In May, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan’s junior partner, signed a memorandum with a Foxconn subsidiary for Foxconn to supply an EV model.

Official Statements:

Nissan said the Nikkei report on the talks was not based on information officially released by the company. Foxconn did not respond to requests for comment.

Foxconn Posts Record Q2 Revenue Driven by AI Demand but Warns on Geopolitical and Currency Risks

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Taiwan’s Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer and Apple’s main iPhone assembler, reported record revenue for the second quarter, boosted by strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) related products. However, the company also flagged potential headwinds from geopolitical tensions and currency fluctuations.

Key Points:

  • Revenue Performance:
    Foxconn’s Q2 revenue rose 15.82% year-on-year to T$1.797 trillion (Taiwan dollars), surpassing analyst expectations (LSEG SmartEstimate: T$1.7896 trillion). June alone saw revenue climb 10.09% year-on-year to a record T$540.237 billion.

  • Drivers of Growth:

    • The surge in demand for AI-related cloud and networking products, including components for Nvidia’s AI chips, was a major growth driver.

    • Revenue from smart consumer electronics, including iPhones, was flat year-on-year, impacted by adverse exchange rate movements.

  • Outlook and Risks:
    Foxconn expects continued growth in the current quarter compared to previous quarters and last year but remains cautious about risks posed by evolving global political situations and foreign exchange volatility.
    The company did not provide specific numerical forecasts.

  • Geopolitical Context:
    The announcement comes amid heightened U.S. tariffs and trade tensions, with U.S. President Trump recently notifying 12 countries about potential tariff levels on their exports to the U.S., potentially affecting global supply chains.

  • Operational Footprint:
    Foxconn operates the world’s largest iPhone manufacturing facility in Zhengzhou, China.

  • Stock Market Impact:
    Despite last year’s strong 76% stock rally outperforming the Taiwan market, Foxconn’s shares have fallen 12.5% so far this year amid broader tech sector volatility influenced by trade policy concerns. The stock fell 1.83% on Friday ahead of the earnings announcement.

  • Next Steps:
    Full Q2 earnings will be released on August 14.

Nvidia and Foxconn in Talks to Deploy Humanoid Robots at New Houston AI Server Factory

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Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn and U.S. AI chipmaker Nvidia are reportedly negotiating to introduce humanoid robots at Foxconn’s upcoming factory in Houston, which will produce Nvidia AI servers. According to sources familiar with the discussions, this would mark the first time Nvidia products are manufactured with the help of humanoid robots and Foxconn’s inaugural use of such robots in an AI server production line.

The planned deployment, expected to be finalized within months, represents a significant advancement in the use of human-like robots in manufacturing, potentially transforming factory processes. Foxconn is working on its own humanoid robots in collaboration with Nvidia and has also tested humanoids developed by China’s UBTech. Details on the specific types, appearances, and number of robots planned for the Houston facility remain unclear.

The goal is to have the humanoid robots operational by the first quarter of next year, coinciding with the start of production for Nvidia’s GB300 AI servers at the Houston plant. While precise tasks have not been confirmed, Foxconn has been training humanoid robots for activities such as picking and placing objects, cable insertion, and assembly, according to a May company presentation.

Foxconn’s Houston factory is particularly suited for humanoid robot deployment due to its newness and ample space compared to existing AI server production sites. Nvidia and Foxconn declined to comment on the matter, and sources spoke anonymously due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.

At a recent event in Taipei, Leo Guo, general manager of Foxconn Industrial Internet’s robotics unit, revealed plans to showcase two humanoid robot models at Foxconn’s annual tech event in November—one with legs and another on a wheeled autonomous mobile robot base, the latter being the more cost-effective option.

Nvidia announced in April its plans to build AI supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas, partnering with Foxconn in Houston and Wistron in Dallas, with production ramp-up expected within 12 to 15 months.

For Nvidia, integrating humanoid robots in AI server manufacturing signifies a deeper commitment to robotics technology, building on its existing platform that supports humanoid robot development. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has forecasted that widespread use of humanoid robots in manufacturing is less than five years away.

Several automakers, including Mercedes-Benz and BMW, have experimented with humanoid robots on production lines, while Tesla is developing its own. China also heavily supports humanoid robotics, anticipating that many factory tasks will eventually be carried out by these robots.