The company that builds your iPhone just built a Tesla Model Y rival

© foxconn.com

Foxconn, best known as the contract assembler of the iPhone, has unveiled a new electric crossover called the Foxtron Cavira. It is the production evolution of the Model C platform and will go on sale in Taiwan first, with other markets potentially to follow.

Dimensionally the Cavira is close to the Tesla Model Y: 4,695 mm long with a 2,920 mm wheelbase. Every version uses a lithium-ion battery with 82.7 kWh of capacity. The entry-level Emerge Long-Range Edition has a single rear motor producing 249 hp and a WLTC range of up to 578 km. The more potent Pioneer Long-Range Performance Edition gets dual motors, develops 468 hp, hits 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and travels up to 538 km on a charge.

Inside, Foxtron has not buried functions in menus. The cabin features a digital instrument cluster, a vertical 15.6-inch infotainment screen and a row of physical switches beneath it. The equipment list also includes a 12-speaker audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, over-the-air updates, cabin fragrance, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

The real intrigue is not the design but the business model. Foxconn knows how to mass-produce complex electronics and now wants to transfer that expertise to cars. The Cavira shows the company is no longer content being just an Apple supplier.

If Foxtron eventually pushes beyond Taiwan, the Tesla Model Y and Chinese crossovers will have to compete not only with traditional automakers but also with a contract-manufacturing giant.