TAIPEI, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Foxconn's said on

Monday it plans to manufacture data centre equipment with

Japan's SoftBank at the Taiwanese firm's former

electric vehicle factory in Ohio, part of the Stargate project

to advance U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Softbank has purchased the Lordstown site, Foxconn Chairman

Young Liu told reporters, adding that Foxconn will continue

operating the site via a venture the two companies will set up.

Foxconn said earlier this month it had struck a deal to sell

the factory and its machinery for $375 million, without naming

the buyer.

Stargate is a joint venture between SoftBank, ChatGPT's

creator OpenAI and Oracle. The project was announced by

U.S. President Donald Trump in January, who said that the

companies would invest up to $500 billion.

SoftBank did not immediately respond to a request for

comment.

SoftBank and Foxconn started preparatory work for the

project more than half a year ago, Young added.

"We understand that for this project, the first priorities

are power, venue, and timing - it cannot be delayed for too

long. Taking all these factors into account, we believe Ohio is

a very suitable location, and SoftBank shares this view," he

said.