File photo. (iStock/Thinkstock)(LAS VEGAS) — Faraday Future, the mysterious company that has spent the past year and a half operating in stealth-mode, revealed its big project in Las Vegas Monday night before the start of the International Consumer Electronics Show, unveiling a new car called the FFZERO1 concept.
Founded 18 months ago, the California-based company has been quietly working on its first intelligent car, and made clear its ambition to one day take on Tesla Motors.
Nick Sampson, senior vice president of product, research and design at FF, lauded Tesla’s speed of bringing its electric cars to the market, but added that FF has only been at it for 18 months.
“Tesla and Elon Musk have created something incredible and we should all applaud them for it, the first mass-market electric vehicle,” Sampson said, adding that his former employer had created a superb driving experience and built a loyal customer base.
“Tesla moves at breakneck speed compared to the rest of the industry,” he said before pointing out that FF began 18 months ago, has 750 employees and will deliver its first vehicle in a “few years’ time.”
With the cloak of secrecy removed, here’s what you need to know to get acquainted with Faraday Future:
Inside the Car
Billed as a “high performance electric dream car,” the FFZERO1 packs 1,000 horsepower and the ability to act like “an extreme tablet on wheels.”
Like most concept cars, the FFZERO1 looks as though it would belong more on a race track than the main road. The show Monday night was simply about introducing the company’s technology to the world and, ultimately, building hype for a product the company hopes will drive the automotive industry toward a technologically limitless and environmental-friendly future.
Nevada Plant
Sampson said the company will break ground on a new manufacturing plant in North Las Vegas in “a few weeks.” FF expects to create 4,500 jobs.
When Can You Get One?
Sampson said the company plans to deliver its first vehicle in a few years but did not give a specific target date.
Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told ABC News before the event he suspects it would take a while.
“What you get down the line is never exactly what you see,” Moorhead said. “I think they’re trying to make a big and positive impression showing what they think is possible.”
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