Faraday Future names new China CEO
California-based electric car start-up Faraday Future has appointed Xuefeng (‘Chris’) Chen as CEO for its China business. The FF 91 electric SUV is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2022.
The new China boss Chen previously worked for Changan Ford, Changan Mazda, Ford Asia Pacific Design Centre and Chery Jaguar Land Rover. Chen will report directly to Carsten Breidtfeld, CEO of FF Global. In China, Chen will oversee all FF China-related businesses from manufacturing strategy to developing localised products and creating an ecosystem for users.
“Chris is a critical hire to the realization of FF’s US-China dual home strategy,” Breitfeld says of the new hire, who will also partner with FF Global. “I am confident that his comprehensive management acumen and operational experience in luxury car brands will accelerate the implementation of FF’s business in China and will be beneficial to FF’s global strategic development”
Rumours surfaced in late January that Faraday Future was planning to build a plant in China with an initial annual production capacity of over 100,000 vehicles and was in negotiations with Geely for contract manufacturing. The company also announced a merger partner for its upcoming IPO.
FF mentions the merger agreement in its latest announcement, but not the rumours about the plant. “Preparations are currently underway for the delivery of FF 91,” is all that is said in the margins of the announcement of Chen as the new China boss.
However, in a statement released a few days ago about completed winter tests in the US, FF became more specific: The market launch of the FF 91 electric SUV is planned for the first half of 2022.
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