▲Foxconn announced that it will begin producing Monarch's autonomous tractors in early 2023. (Photo credit: Monarch)


Announces plans to begin production at its Ohio plant in the first quarter of 2023.
Taiwanese media: "Expectations are rising for Foxconn to be selected as Apple Car contract manufacturer."

Foxconn, known as Apple's contract manufacturer, announced that it will produce Monarch's self-driving electric tractor in the United States, raising attention as to whether this will have an impact on the future selection of Apple Car contract manufacturers.

Taiwan's Foxconn and Monarch announced on the 9th that they have signed a contract to produce Monarch's autonomous electric tractors and battery packs at their Lordstown, Ohio, plant starting in early 2023.

Products produced at the Ohio plant are developed and manufactured based on the MK-V series of Monarch tractors.

Monarch's MK-V series is a 'smart tractor' that was first introduced last year and is characterized by its autonomous driving function.

Monarch's software solutions cover tractor management, farm monitoring, and data analysis, and through an open marketplace, third-party software engineers can leverage MK-V to expand the tractor's capabilities.

Foxconn said it will begin production of Monarch's MK-V series tractors in the first quarter of 2023.

Reuters interpreted Monarch's move as a sign that heavy equipment manufacturers such as Deere & Co (DE.N) and Georgia-based AGCO (AGCO.N) are moving in step with the smartening of U.S. agriculture.

Foxconn has 50 years of experience as a manufacturer of iPhones, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and more.

This autonomous tractor production The deal is attracting attention because Foxconn is a strong candidate to produce Apple cars.

Last year, Foxconn established its own electric vehicle brand, FOXTRON, and unveiled a diverse lineup of products, including sedans, SUVs, and buses. Furthermore, local Taiwanese media outlets are predicting that if Foxconn succeeds in producing its self-driving tractor, it will definitely attract Apple's attention.

Meanwhile, not all tractors are equipped with autonomous driving systems.

The autonomous driving software is sold separately, and users can use the autonomous tractor through a subscription model that requires a monthly fee.

“What differentiates Monarch is that while other companies focus on large farms, we focus on small farms,” Monarch’s CEO told Reuters.