Poland's electric car is back: Taiwan's Foxtron plans 100+ test prototypes

Poland's long-running dream of its own electric car just got a very concrete detail: more than 100 prototypes may soon be driving on Polish roads.

That's what Szu I. Lu, a vice president at Taiwan's Foxtron, says the company will send over if a deal with Poland is signed. Foxtron is the electric-vehicle arm of electronics giant Foxconn.

What happened?

At the turn of October and November, the two board members of ElectroMobility Poland (EMP, the state-owned company behind the project) travelled to Taipei. President Cyprian Gronkiewicz and vice president Tomasz Gałaszkiewicz met Foxconn's management there.

The talks are a step towards a Polish-Taiwanese joint venture that would run an electric car factory in Jaworzno, southern Poland. Gronkiewicz says the negotiations are on the "final straight" and he would bet big money the deal is signed this year.

Foxtron already has 11 electric models, from compact cars and sedans to SUVs and a city bus.

What will the prototypes do?

The cars would be tested to adapt them to Europe. Foxtron says its engineers can adjust software, chassis and drivetrain settings to local needs.

The tests will look at Poland's climate, which differs from Southeast Asia's, plus road quality and driving styles. Charging systems and chargers will be checked too, because European standards differ from Asian ones. Local people will also be invited to get behind the wheel and share feedback.

What's still unknown?

It isn't clear which Foxtron car will be the base model. Unofficially, two or three are in play, including the Cavira, an SUV almost 4.7 metres long.

The name is also open. "Izera" is out, and EMP will ask an outside agency for new proposals. The cars are meant to sell across Europe, so the name has to work far beyond Poland.

The plan is for Poland to take under 50% of sales, with the rest exported. Within a few years of launch, the cars should be on sale in 18 to 20 European countries.

Why Poland?

Foxtron points to Poland's growth, one of Europe's highest GDP growth rates, and its well-developed supplier chain for the car industry. Around 200,000 people work in the sector, which makes up about 8% of Polish GDP.

Building in Jaworzno is due to start in spring 2027, according to EMP.

What came before?

The Izera project was announced in 2020 as the first Polish electric car brand. A planned partnership with China's Geely fell through, leaving the project without a technology partner. Foxtron is now meant to be the fresh start.