Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. is planning to supply camera modules to Tesla. Electronic components for vehicles is one of major future businesses that Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. is pushing for.
According to an industry on the 24th, Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. is thinking about supplying camera modules to Tesla for its new electric vehicle. These camera modules will be used for rear cameras for parking of ‘Model 3’, which will be mass-produced by Tesla soon. Supply of these modules is controlled by Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.’s new business task force, which is a task force that is directly under Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.’s CEO and is responsible for current vehicle component business.
Final decision for this supply has not been decided yet. Industries are predicting that the supplier will be selected by end of third quarter or beginning of fourth quarter of this year. A representative for this industry is saying that Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. is the most likely candidate.
Model 3 is an electric vehicle that will be released by Tesla at the end of 2017. Because its price ($35,000) is going to be only half of current electric vehicles, it is receiving huge interests from all over the world. Reservation for Model 3, which started from the 31st of last month, surpassed 400,000 in just 3 weeks. Model 3 can also be purchased in South Korea.
To obtain necessary components, it is heard that Tesla has been looking at South Korea’s camera module providers since beginning of last year. After looking and verifying manufacturers, Tesla is at a stage where it is actually going to decide which manufacturer it is going to receive camera modules from.
“We cannot give any information regarding particular supplies and customers.” said a representative for Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. regarding possible supply of camera modules to Tesla.
Staff Reporter Yun, Kunil | benyun@etnews.com