Future Mobility to have first driverless electric cars on the road by 2020
Tencent-backed startup pitching its new models against BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, says chief executive Carsten Breitfeld
Future Mobility Corp, the Chinese electric car startup backed by internet giant Tencent Holdings, plans to have its first driverless vehicles on the road by 2020.
Its first models, which will be produced in China, are being targeted at middle-class buyers of German premium brands rather that US’ electric carmaker Tesla, said chief executive Carsten Breitfeld in an interview with the Post on Tuesday.
“Our market share will not come from what Tesla has today, it will come from [buyers of] BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz,” said Breitfeld, who previously headed a team to build the BMW i8 electric sports car.
The company, which also counts Apple’s contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry and car dealership group China Harmony New Energy Auto Holding as shareholders, plans to sell its cars in the US and Europe, as well as domestically.
Future Mobility is among several auto startups being backed by Chinese internet giants who are betting big on new-energy vehicles, amid the government’s growing support for the green car industry.
SUV (sports utility vehicle) and SAV (sports activity vehicle) are successful segments. We will go for those first
Tencent has also invested in NextEV, which is seen as one of Tesla’s prime competitors.