There's a new self-driving car in town: China's Faraday Future gets go-ahead for testing on California roads
- Faraday Future is one of 14 car makers given approval in California to test autonomous vehicles on public roads
- Sources say Faraday has been testing testing prototype vehicles for the past year at private facilities
- Firm confirmed that its electric vehicles would have 'state of the art driver assistance systems'
- Will start selling cars sometime next year, as broke ground for a $1 billion Las Vegas-area production plant in April
A few hundred miles south of Tesla Motors headquarters resides another electric car maker that has been given the green-light to unleash its prototypes on California roads.
Faraday Future won approval today from The Golden State to begin testing its self-driving vehicles later this year on public routes.
The Los Angeles-based startup plans to start building and selling electric vehicles next year in the United States, but has not disclosed details of regarding its newly awarded self-driving program.
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Faraday Future won approval today from The Golden State to begin testing its self-driving electric vehicles later this year on public routes. The China-backed, Los Angeles-based startup plans to begin building and selling electric vehicles next year in the United States, but has not disclosed details of regarding its newly awarded self-driving program -- it might include the FFZERO1 (pictured)
Faraday is one of several Chinese-funded startups hoping to challenge Tesla in premium electric vehicles.
Like Tesla, Faraday also hopes to add self-driving capability to its vehicles, but has not provided a timetable.
The startup has been testing prototype vehicles for the past year at private facilities, according to the source familiar with the company's program, reports Reuters.
Jan Becker, senior director of automated driving at Faraday's San Jose tech center, confirmed earlier this month that the firm's electric vehicles would have 'state of the art driver assistance systems', which could be the start for full self-driving capability.
Becker declined to give specifics on the car maker's plans to add self-driving capability, but said such systems, when introduced, would offer automatic over-the-air software updates similar to those provided by Tesla.
THE FFZERO1: KEY FEATURES
The 1,000-horsepower FFZero1 includes the ability to exceeed 200mph (321 kph) and accelerate from zero to 60mph in less than three seconds.
The adjustable chassis can accommodate strings of batteries that are more easily changed than single batteries. The number of batteries would depend on car size
The company named its concept car FFZero1, but others are nicknaming it the 'Tesla-killer'. Pictured is the vehicle today in Las Vegas
It also includes a helmet to provide oxygen and water to the driver.
Meanwhile, 'aero tunnels' have been incorporated into the design to channel air through the vehicle to reduce drag and cool the batteries.
The battery-powered FFZero1 would project information over the driver's line of sight, the company said.
Prior to Faraday's win, California gave 13 other companies approvals to test autonomous vehicles on public roads, most recently two Silicon Valley startups -- Zoox and Drive.ai.
The state's Department of Motor Vehicles also has approved testing by Cruise Automation, which was acquired earlier this year by General Motors Co.
Other approved car makers include Alphabet Inc's Google , Tesla, Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz, Nissan Motor Co, BMW AG , Honda Motor Co and Ford Motor Co, and auto suppliers Robert Bosch and Delphi Automotive.
Not only is Faraday invading Tesla's turff, but the LA startup has set a date for its first vehicles rolling off the assembly line -- 2018.
The announcement was made as officials marked the start of construction on a planned $1 billion Las Vegas-area production plant, not far from rival Tesla's Gigafactory.
CES: Faraday Future Electric Luxury car shown off
The China-backed, Los Angeles-based startup plans to begin building and selling electric vehicles next year in the United States, but has not disclosed details of regarding its newly awarded self-driving program. Faraday currently has about 700 employees in the U.S. It unveiled a concept car in January, but hasn't put a vehicle on the market. Pictured is a concept design of its new factory
While it's clear the company plans to create an electric car, a prototype has yet to be unveiled and there are no specifics yet on what kinds of cars it might manufacture.
Faraday Future puts the size of the Apex Industrial Park facility at 3 million square feet, or nearly the size of the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center close to the Las Vegas Strip.
It compares to Tesla's Gigafactory in the Nevada desert, which when complete, is set to have the biggest footprint of any building in the world.
'Our aim is to complete a program that would normally take four years and do it in half the time, while still doing it right,' said Dag Reckhorn, Faraday Future global manufacturing vice president.
As well as a lack of details on its product, the famously mysterious company has revealed very little details about its business strategy.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval looks at a model for a Faraday Future factory in North Las Vegas, Nev. The upstart electric car company held an event to mark the start of construction at a Las Vegas-area production plant toward which Nevada had pledged up to $335 million worth of incentives
It was a few months late with its groundbreaking, in part due to the departure of its chief engineer at the end of last year.
Today, the company has hundreds of people working in its southern California headquarters, with former BMW designer, Richard Kim, leading efforts to create its electric vehicles.
At a bizarre unveiling of its concept car, the FFZero1, at CES this year, the company said that it wants to make autonomous vehicles and use a flexible chassis that can support different vehicle types.
But how this would work remains unclear.
At its new facility in Las Vegas, the company promises an automated 'highly connected and environmentally friendly' plant that will emphasize energy efficiency and modern design.
'We are moving extremely quickly for a project of this size,' Reckhorn said.
Secretive electric car company Faraday Future hopes to have its first vehicles rolling off the assembly line in 2018. The announcement was made as officials marked the start of construction on a planned $1 billion Las Vegas-area production plant, not far from rival Tesla's Gigafactory. Pictured is the construction site as it stands today
'We have received tremendous support from local government officials and the community, and look forward to making a significant, positive impact on the local economy.'
Nevada has pledged up to $335 million worth of incentives toward the project, which Gardena, California-based Faraday promises will employ some 4,500 people over the next decade.
The company, backed by Chinese entrepreneur Jia Yueting, currently has about 700 employees in the US.
It unveiled a concept car in January, but hasn't put a vehicle on the market.
Faraday Future puts the size of the Apex Industrial Park facility at 3 million square feet, or nearly the size of the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center close to the Las Vegas Strip
Faraday Future last month pledged to post a $75 million bond toward the development of roads, rail and water lines to serve the 900-acre site at the Apex Industrial Park.
The site sits 25 miles north of downtown Las Vegas off Interstate 15.
Nevada State Treasurer Dan Schwartz has raised questions about funding, and has promised not to let Nevada taxpayers get stuck with the bill.
The firm's FFZero1 concept car was unveiled to the world at CES in Las Vegas in January.
THE GIGAFACTORY THAT WILL MAKE OR BREAK TESLA: DRONE FOOTAGE REVEALS PROGRESS ON FACILITY
When it's complete, Tesla's Gigafactory in the Nevada Desert will have the largest footprint of any building in the world. At the Model 3 launch yesterday, founder Elon Musk said the $5 billion structure will produce 500,000 lithium ion batteries annually to meet demand. Now, new drone footage has revealed progress on construction of the Gigafactory in stunning high-definition
When it's complete, Tesla's Gigafactory in the Nevada Desert will have the largest footprint of any building in the world.
At the Model 3 launch last week, founder Elon Musk said the $5 billion structure will produce 500,000 lithium ion batteries each year to meet demand.
And the pressure is on. So far, 198,000 people have pre-ordered the Model 3 in less than 24 hours since launch - and demand is expected to remain high.
Now, new drone footage has revealed progress on construction of the Gigafactory in stunning high-definition.
The 4k footage shows little progress on the exterior of the building, but Tesla appears to have been working on the area around the plant.
Filmed using a DJI Phantom 4 drone, it reveals more building sections covered in white reflective roofing, as well as a paved parking lot.
Musk said the Gigafactory and its Fremont facility would produce more lithium ion batteries in a year than were produced in the entire world in 2013.
Tesla gigafactory Easter 2016 drone video update in 4k
But when it comes to how much ground it covers, Tesla's upcoming factory is the largest in the world.
'This is a vital element,' Musk said in his presentation of the Model 3. 'To give you a sense of scale, the Gigafactory will have the largest footprint of any building of any kind.'
'Our Fremont factory in the past has actually made 500,000 cars a year, so we're confident Tesla can achieve that in the future in terms of vehicle production,' he said.
'I think that's going to be, I wouldn't say straight forward, but very doable.
'But what about batteries? In order to produce half a million cars a year, we basically need to absorb the entire world's lithium production 'That's the entire reason we're building the Gigafactory.
'It will produce more lithium ion batteries than all other factories in the world combined...We will also be producing the most advanced cell in the world.'
The Gigafactory is now producing battery packs but not yet creating the cells inside, Musk revealed.
The huge project is part of the billionaire's plan to drive down the cost of electric cars and create home battery packs to provide cheaper electricity.
The mysterious Chinese-backed firm described its creation as 'the most extreme iteration of what it can build', leaving many wondering how such a bizarre design would work in the real-world.
Speaking to DailyMail.com in January, chief designer Richard Kim has revealed that a production electric vehicle is currently being tested on the roads and said it will be revealed 'very soon'.
He also claimed the road vehicle will feature many of the concepts currently showcased on the FFZero1.
The 1,000-horsepower FFZero1 includes the ability to exceeed 200mph (321 kph) and accelerate from zero to 60mph in less than three seconds.
It also includes a helmet to provide oxygen and water to the driver.
'I promise the final model will have more than one seat, that's for sure,' he said. 'If we take all of the FF design DNA and crank the volume on it, and amplify those elements there will be a relationship to what you see here.'
Speaking to DailyMail.com, chief designer Richard Kim (pictured) has revealed that a production electric vehicle is currently being tested on the roads and said t will be revealed 'very soon'. And what's more, he claims the road vehicle will feature many of the concepts currently showcased on the FFZero1
Pictured is Tom Wessner, VP of Global Supply Chain at Faraday Future, left, Ding Lei, co-founder, Global Vice Chairman at See Plan at LeEco, second, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval second right, and Dag Reckhorn, VP of Global Manufacturing at FF
Dag Reckhorn, VP of Global Manufacturing at Faraday Future, left, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, center, Tom Wessner, VP of Global Supply Chain at Faraday Future, second right, Ding Lei, Co-founder, Global Vice Chairman of SEE Plan at LeEco, right, unveil scale model of manufacturing plant at Faraday Future's Ground Breaking Ceremony
For instance, Kim, who is also the designer behind the BMW i3 and i8, said the lighting elements and the instrument panel that looks as though it's floating will likely remain on the production car.
He also highlighted its teardrop shape and aerodynamic tunnels that allow air to flow through the car and cool the batteries, saying we could see a flavour of these elements in future models.
'These two shapes curl into two endless channels that allow air to flow effortlessly through the car. We think it's a cool feature, it's also aerodynamic.
'If you have good cooling, and better aerodynamics, then you have better range.'
Central to that is a proprietary engineering platform model that supports a range of vehicle types, cutting back on development and production time.
After months of secrecy and speculation, Faraday Future's FFZero1 concept car was finally unveiled to the world in January at CES. The mysterious Chinese-backed firm described its creation as 'the most extreme iteration of what it can build', leaving many wondering how such a bizarre design would work in the real-world
The 1,000-horsepower FFZero1 includes the ability to exceeed 200mph (321 kph) and accelerate from zero to 60mph in less than 3 seconds
The adjustable chassis can accommodate strings of batteries that are more easily changed than single batteries. The number of batteries would depend on car size.
But Kim remained silent about when it would be unveiled. 'We're not going into the exact date but very soon. Much shorter than your typical production cycle.'
Kim was also careful not to comment on the competition, claiming that what he is building is far more than just an electric car, he describes his work as creating an 'electric car eco-system'.
But he said he likes the description of the car as being a 'Tesla-killer' as well as references to it being like a 'Batmobile'.
'To be like the Batmobile is not a bad thing right?' he said. 'If Batman wants to drive this then tell him to come and talk to me.'
'CHINA'S STEVE JOBS' - JIA YEUTING
Jia Yueting, who's the founder and CEO of the holding company Leshi, which roughly translates as 'Happy TV'.
Jia Yueting, who's the founder and CEO of the holding company Leshi, which roughly translates as 'Happy TV'.
Jia is worth $7.9 billion, according to Forbes, which ranked him as China's 17th richest person.
His company, which is also involved in film production, 'smart' TVs, video streaming, mobile phones and bicycles.
Its film division, Le Vision Pictures, is run by Zhang Zhao and has a partnership with heralded Chinese director Zhang Yimou.
The company has invested in and distributed Hollywood films including 'The Expendables 2.'
The company's current market capitalization stands at about $15 billion.
Jia once worked in tech support in a tax office in Shanxi Province, and one of his first successes was Sinotel, a wireless telecom company that went public in Singapore in 2008.
'I promise the final model will have more than one seat, that's for sure,' said haed designer Richard Kim. 'If we take all of the FF design DNA and crank the volume on it, and amplify those elements there will be a relationship to what you see here'
However, the road ahead may not be as smooth as the company claims. The Financial Times recently noted that Faraday Future's chief battery architect had left after 15 months in the role.
The company is only 22 months old.
Sampson denied that Faraday's main competitor would be Tesla, whose premium Model S electric vehicle has shaken up the traditional automaking industry.
Like Tesla, Sampson said, Faraday will target buyers of luxury gasoline-powered cars to expand the still-tiny EV market in the United States.
'Thinking about us and Tesla squabbling over 1 percent of the market, it's not really part of the equation,' he said.
Earlier this month, the firm announced plans to build a $1 billion plant near Las Vegas.
The automotive future, according to Faraday Future, looks a lot like a Corvette crossed with the Batmobile. The California-based company today unveiled its sleek electric concept during the annual CES show that focuses on consumer gadgets
The adjustable chassis can accommodate strings of batteries that are more easily changed than single batteries. The number of batteries would depend on car size
WHO HAS IT HIRED?
Employees of Faraday include:
Nick Sampson, Senior Vice President – Former Director of Vehicle & Chassis Engineering, Tesla Motors
Dag Reckhorn, Vice President of Global Manufacturing – Former Director of Manufacturing, Tesla Model S
Alan Cherry, Vice President of Human Resources - Former Senior Director, Human Resources, Tesla Motors
Tom Wessner, Vice President of Supply Chain - Former Director of Purchasing, Tesla Motors
Richard Kim, Head of Design – Founding member of BMW i Design and Lead Designer, i3 and i8 concepts.
The company is backed by a Chinese billionaire investor who styles himself after Apple's late Steve Jobs.
'We plan to revolutionise the automobile industry by creating an integrated, intelligent mobility system that protects the earth and improves the living environment of mankind,' wrote Jia Yueting, who's the founder and CEO of the holding company LeTV.
Jia is worth $7 billion, according to Forbes, which ranked him as China's 17th richest person.
He has not commented on Faraday, but has written on his Chinese microblog: 'We will build the best electric cars to solve the problems of air pollution and traffic jams in China.'
Tesla had a monopoly in the electric car market, but that could all be about to change.
One automotive industry analyst noted that Faraday was starting behind Tesla and traditional auto makers that are already developing technology to provide vehicle Internet access and over-the-air updates to electronic controls.
'I'm not saying they can't succeed, but they're not going to be first,' said Stephanie Brinley, senior analyst with IHS Automotive in Southfield, Michigan.
Economics Professor Edward Leamer, director of the Anderson Forecast at the University of California, Los Angeles, said an upstart company might find it hard to sell enough vehicles to break even.
'It could be tough going,' he said. 'That whole electric vehicle marketplace is tough, with oil prices low.'The start-up draws its name from a luminary scientist — Michael Faraday — whose discoveries in the early 1800s laid the groundwork for the modern electric motor.
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