FOMM

FOMM Corporation, an acronym for First One Mile Mobility, is a Japanese automotive company established in February 2013 by Hideo Tsurumaki. The company focuses on the research, development, and production of compact electric vehicles. Tsurumaki, the current CEO, brings extensive experience from his time at Suzuki Motor Corporation, where he worked on scooter engine and motocross frame design, and later at Araco and Toyota Auto Body, where he was instrumental in developing the single-seater EV "Coms". His vision for FOMM was significantly influenced by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which highlighted the need for a vehicle that could navigate flooded areas.

The company's flagship product is the "FOMM ONE," a compact, four-seater electric vehicle. A key feature of the FOMM ONE is its ability to float and move on water, a direct response to the founder's experience with tsunami aftermaths. The vehicle is engineered with in-wheel motors to maximize interior space within its small frame, measuring just 2,585 mm in length and 1,295 mm in width. It boasts a range of approximately 160 kilometers on a full charge and a top speed of 80 km/h. The powertrain delivers 10kW of maximum power and 560Nm of torque. Another distinctive feature is the hand-operated accelerator integrated into the steering wheel, designed to prevent pedal misapplication.

FOMM operates on a business model that extends beyond vehicle sales. The company has developed a battery-swapping system, allowing users to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones at designated stations, a process that takes about five minutes. This addresses the long charging times associated with conventional EVs. In 2023, FOMM announced a new service to convert gasoline-powered microvans, like the widely used Suzuki Every, into battery-swappable EVs, targeting commercial delivery fleets. The company partners with local auto repair shops to carry out these conversions. FOMM's business strategy has a strong focus on Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, where it established a joint venture, FOMM (Asia), in 2016 and commenced mass production of the FOMM ONE. The company has secured funding from investors including Banpu, Mistletoe, and Yaskawa Electric Corporation.

Keywords: First One Mile Mobility, compact electric vehicle, floating car, Hideo Tsurumaki, FOMM ONE, in-wheel motor, battery swapping, EV conversion, micro-mobility, urban mobility, amphibious vehicle, Suzuki Every conversion, Thailand EV market, Japanese automotive startup, sustainable transportation, last-mile delivery, EV technology, battery cloud service, steerable accelerator, automotive R&D