Late June reports suggest that the leading American automaker Tesla was planning to acquire a German-based wireless charging startup called “Wiferion.”
Just about a month later, Tesla finally completed the acquisition process of the charging company. The company’s website displays that it is now operating under, “Tesla Engineering Germany GmbH.”
Acquisition details
Teslamag.de estimates that Tesla’s Wiferion takeover costs approximately $76 million. Interestingly, the automaker’s Q2 2023 report indicated that it spent t $76 million on “Business combinations, net of cash acquired.” It must be noted that it may have used the funds for other investments. However, there are no current reports about the possibility.
Tesla’s takeover of the wireless charging startup may be a significant part of its plans to soon offer this innovative and convenient charging solution to complement its planned “full” self-driving EVs. It is arguably natural for the automaker to seek a charging technology to eliminate the hassle of plugging the car into charging stalls, as it aims to hit “full autonomy” this year.
For context, wireless charging will enable Tesla EVs to simply park themselves with autonomous driving features over a wireless charging pad. The charging process begins automatically, without using any tools like cables and plugs.
About Wiferion
Wiferion is a wireless charging company focusing on electric vehicles and robots, established in 2016. It started deploying its innovative charging stations in 2018. Since that year, it successfully sold its charging tech to industrial customers approximately 8,000 times.
However, its business purpose and goals changed following Tesla’s takeover. Tesla Engineering Germany GmbH’s trade register entry indicated that the company now has a wider scope.
Apparently, it is now committed to developing, producing, and selling “products and services in the field of power electronics and other technical disciplines in support of the development of electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems and devices, systems, and devices for energy production, including solar modules, solar electrical systems and/or other solar energy conversion technologies and generally from all other energy generation systems, related products and related parts.”
See Also:
- Tesla explores acquisition of wireless charging startup
- Tesla teases wireless charger and unveils unlimited overnight home charging
- Can I charge my EV wirelessly?
- Toyota seeks wireless charging tech with new partners
- FinePowerX licenses WiTricity technology to allow automatic wireless charging for EVs
Tesla’s takeover of Wiferion is not exactly new for the company as it already has a reputation for incorporating other industries’ technologies into its EVs. For example, it employed Space X’s material engineering knack to build motors and structural parts.
That said, it would be exciting to see Tesla offering a wireless charging solution for its customers. It will arguably complement its planned “full autonomy,” enabling its cars to drive autonomously and charge effortlessly.
