MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Foxconn Technology Group said Wednesday it is shifting the focus of its planned Wisconsin campus away from blue-collar manufacturing to a research hub, while insisting it…
MADISON, Wis. — Foxconn Technology Group said Wednesday it is shifting the focus of its planned Wisconsin campus away from blue-collar manufacturing to a research hub, while insisting it remains committed to creating 13,000 jobs as promised.
The much-ballyhooed facility was heralded by President Donald Trump and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to return manufacturing to the Midwest. Foxconn, a major supplier to Apple, is the world’s largest contract maker of electronics and China’s largest private employer.
In a statement Wednesday, Foxconn said it remains committed to the project, the creation of 13,000 jobs and “to our long-term investment in Wisconsin.” But because the global market environment that existed when the project was first announced in 2017 has shifted, “this has necessitated the adjustment of plans for all projects, including Wisconsin.”
Foxconn previously said it could invest as much as $10 billion in the project, but did not recommit to that number Wednesday.
Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, told Reuters that it is scaling back and possibly shelving plans to build liquid crystal display panel screens.
“In terms of TV, we have no place in the U. S.,” Woo told Reuters. “We can’t compete.”
Woo said a factory would not be built in Wisconsin: “You can’t use a factory to view our Wisconsin investment.”
Instead, Woo said Foxconn wants to create a “technology hub” that would largely consist of research facilities along with packaging and assembly operations. Woo said about three-quarters of the jobs created will be in research and development and design, rather than blue-collar manufacturing jobs.
Foxconn said in its statement that it was broadening its base of investment in Wisconsin to ensure the company and workforce will be positioned for long-term success.
