Electric vehicle start-up Faraday Future showed off a prototype of a vehicle set for production next year as the China-backed company strive
to weather funding challenges and win credibility.
The FF 91, described by its designer Richard Kim as “weird-pretty,” is a luxury electric SUV that Faraday executives say will be the most technologically advanced on the market when it goes into production in early 2018.
“You’re about to witness day one of a new era of mobility,” said Nick Sampson, senior VP of engineering and research and development. “We’re going to show the first of a new species.”
Faraday are funded and controlled by Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting, the CEO of China’s Leshi Holdings, also known as LeEco, who are showing their own prototype electric car, the LeSee Pro, at the CES consumer electronics show here. He is also an investor in California-based Lucid Motors, a competing electric vehicle start-up attending CES this year.
Faraday debuted at CES last year with a concept car not intended to be produced, raising eyebrows over the company’s legitimacy and Jia’s overall strategy. A cash crunch at LeEco and Faraday’s missed payments to a contractor working on their billion-dollar Nevada factory have spurred more questions in recent months over Faraday’s financial situation.
The FF 91—a long, low, futuristic SUV with a roomy interior—has no handles, as doors will open as a driver approaches. Holograms will be projected on the windshield to alert drivers of needed information. The car will come equipped with a package of sensors, including cameras, radar and lidar, to enable self-driving capability at a future date.
