Foxconn is working with Mexican state Sonora to explore smart city development. This extends implementation of Foxconn’s smart city platform for the first time outside Taiwan.

Foxconn has developed an intelligent smart city platform for use within Taiwan’s smart city programme. The platform has ongoing development and implementation of its platform at Taiwan’s largest port city, Kaohsiung. The company has developed a smart city-focused Build-Operate-Localise business model for collaboration and implementation within Taiwan.

Under the MOUs, Foxconn will work with the Sonora State Government to promote smart city solutions. These will start with transportation, public security and ports. The will provide the state’s residents, businesses and local governments with a better digital experience and governance.

Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo Montaño said the state is ready to become the centre of Mexico’s electric transportation revolution and take the lead in artificial intelligence to benefit daily life. The MOU with Foxconn will not only continue to position the state at the forefront of research, innovation and technological development, but will also contribute to building a prosperous and healthy future for Mexican families.

The Governor said: “In line with the Olinia project promoted by Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, we invite Foxconn to explore the possibility of cooperation in the field of electric vehicles, batteries and electric buses.”

Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said digitalisation and AI-enabled urban governance are important for cities to become intelligent and provide more smart services to businesses and the public. The purpose of Foxconn’s BOL business model is to use the Group’s advantages, including its technological capabilities, software and hardware integration, AI computing power, and global reach to share, cooperate, and thrive with countries, regions, and partners. Chairman Liu said Foxconn is delighted to have this opportunity to cooperate with the State of Sonora to expand its Smart City platform to its first location outside of Taiwan.

Drawing from the experience of Kaohsiung’s smart city transformation, Foxconn will deploy the platform so Sonora can join the ranks of smart cities. At the same time, Chairman Liu said “Foxconn is honoured to be invited to participate in the Olinia project. Going forward, with the support of Mexico’s overall policy conditions, we will jointly explore the possibility of industrial cooperation in areas such as electric vehicles, electric buses and batteries.”

Smart City is one of three platforms, alongside Smart EV and Smart Manufacturing, that Foxconn is advancing as an emerging platform service company. Foxconn’s proprietary CityGPT based on generative AI is being built out as it assists in Kaohsiung’s transformation. Electric vehicles, including Foxconn’s MODEL T electric bus, become mobile IoT vehicles to collect all city data and synchronise it to CityGPT. The Smart City transformation can lead to data-driven decision-making and increase government efficiency. The sharing and connecting of multiple services will lead to smart transportation and smart tourism.