Japanese electronics giant Sharp decided to dabble in cars with its new EV concept developed alongside tech manufacturing titan Foxconn. Enter the Sharp LDK+, a fully electric minivan that seems to believe it’s a living room on wheels, complete with a configurable rear area that tries to make road trips a homey affair. Sharp describes the LDK+ as an “extended living room” packed with its latest tech. The exterior, however, is underwhelming—single-box proportions and a cab-over design reminiscent of commercial vans. With its silver finish, boxy shape, and rounded edges, the LDK+ could easily be mistaken for a high-tech home appliance, an impression only reinforced by the prominent Sharp logo on the front.
The more intriguing aspect of the concept
lies behind its large sliding doors. The rear bench seats can rotate by 180
degrees, transforming the cabin into a cozy room. The side windows feature
liquid crystal shutters for privacy, with an AI-backed system automatically
adjusting the lighting and the temperature according to the preferences of the
occupants. A massive 65-inch display is mounted behind the tailgate, perfect
for watching movies, or organizing video calls with your loved ones. The same
space can be configured as a children’s play area, or as a private office for
remote work with the help of a sliding table.
The concept sits on an “EV open platform”
crafted by Taiwan-based Foxconn, which, as the majority owner of Sharp, makes
this partnership less surprising. A third player, Japan’s Folofly Corporation,
also had a hand in bringing this concept to life. Sharp stayed vague on the
EV’s specs but mentioned that the battery pack doubles as a backup power source
for homes during emergencies. And if you’re looking to go green, the
roof-mounted solar panels offer some off-the-grid charging—at least when the
sun cooperates.
The concept will be formally unveiled at
the Sharp Tech-Day 24 exhibition, which is scheduled to take place on September
17-18 in Tokyo. The company hasn’t revealed any plans to bring the concept to
production but promised to keep pushing for “comfortable lifestyles” and
support “the realization of carbon neutrality”—whatever that might mean in
practice.