BEIJING: An automaker launched last year by
firms including tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd has poached autonomous
driving personnel from Google and Daimler AG, marking China's latest
high-profile hires in the race to make self-driving cars.
Tech firms are encroaching on the auto sector
as cars become increasingly reliant on digital technology, with Chinese
e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and internet search provider
Baidu Inc funding automotive ventures.
A relaxation of restrictions on non-automakers
producing electric cars in China has also encouraged more entrants.
Video streamer cum automaker Le Holdings Co, or LeEco, unveiled an
electric self-driving concept car ahead of the Beijing motor show, which
ends on Wednesday.
Tencent, the Chinese maker of popular chat app
WeChat, established Future Mobility to make electrified self-driving
cars with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry
Co Ltd - also known as Foxconn - and car dealer China Harmony New Energy
Auto Holding Ltd.
"If you're measuring these firms (Future
Mobility, LeEco and others) as automotive companies, the risks are very
high and it's a very long shot for any to make it," said Bill Russo,
managing director at consultancy Gao Feng Advisory Co. "Even Tesla has
taken 10 years to earn respect."
Future Mobility has hired lead designer
Wolfram Luchner from Alphabet Inc's self-driving car project, a person
familiar with the matter told Reuters, declining to be identified ahead
of an official announcement.
From Daimler, the venture has hired
Mercedes-Benz North America autonomous driving research and development
director Luca Delgrossi, the person said.
When contacted by Reuters, Future Mobility Chief Operating Officer Daniel Kirchert confirmed the appointments.
The automaker aims to produce luxury cars in
China for sale at home, in Europe and the United States, Kirchert said,
declining to specify when production would start.
"The auto sector has three different tipping
points at the same time: electric powertrain with the connected car and
autonomous drive," he said.
Future Mobility will be able to adapt more
quickly to these changes than traditional automakers because it is more
difficult for larger manufacturers to enact major change, he said.
Kirchert also confirmed other high-profile
recruits from Tesla Motors Inc and BMW AG, as reported by Reuters,
Bloomberg and China Daily.
Those recruits include Carsten Breitfeld who
will become Future Mobility's chief executive once released from BMW,
where he was project manager for the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.
Kirchert himself was China head of Nissan
Motor Co Ltd's luxury Infiniti brand prior to officially joining Future
Mobility last week.
(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
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