Tesla has officially acquired Wiferion, a wireless charging startup based in Germany. The move is part of the automaker's plan to develop its own platform .
See also: Team of researchers jailbreaks Tesla's infotainment system
Earlier this year, we reported that Tesla was seriously considering acquiring Wiferion, a German startup specializing in wireless charging. Wiferion is known for its advanced technology aimed at industrial robots and electric vehicles. This information comes from official company documents.
Now, after a few months, several German publications have confirmed that Wiferion has accepted the offer to acquire Tesla.
The official cost of the transaction has not been disclosed, but as previously reported, it is expected to be in the high double digits – possibly between $50 million and $100 million. A year ago, this move would have come as a surprise to Tesla, which has never shown any interest in wireless charging.
See also: Tesla: Finally confirms that the Supercharger V4 has a power of 350 kW
The problem solved by wireless charging is not trivial. By using this system, you can reduce the need to plug your car into an outlet, without having to go through a particularly difficult or time-consuming process. However, Tesla has previously stated its intention to automate its operations in order to be prepared for autonomous driving technology. If cars could drive themselves, it would make sense that they could charge automatically without requiring anyone to plug them in.
Over the years, Tesla has preferred to use an automated robotic arm instead of wireless charging to complete this task. However, there have been changes in this area recently.
Earlier this year, Tesla unveiled a new wireless charging station for the home, and now it's possible that this acquisition could accelerate that effort.
See also: California: Get a brand new Tesla Model 3 for under $14,000
Wiferion, now owned by Tesla, has in recent years become a leader in the field of wireless charging, having developed several innovative patents. The products , based on inductive charging technology, are used in a wide range of applications, mainly for industrial robots and electric vehicles. Tesla is expected to benefit significantly from the acquisition of Wiferion, as it will be able to integrate the company's advanced technology into its own products, thus improving the efficiency and ease of charging its electric vehicles.
