Just two days ago, we were wondering what the future of the once-promising Faraday Future (FF) would be. Our question was promptly answered. Much as we predicted, ex-employees banded together to form two electric vehicle (EV) startups and continue the electric future.
EX-Faraday Future Crew Pulls Together For New EVs
Technically, two new startups are seeing the light of day and are making it official. As we expected, both have ex-executives and ex-employees from FF who recently left the company.
Indi EV and EVELOZCITY will continue to pool the resources that went into designing the F91 at Faraday Future. Indi EV filed its paperwork with the California Secretary of State back in August. And as is also expected these days, Indi EV is backed by Chinese entrepreneurs and former Faradayer Steve Osario. Osario was Faraday Future’s head of design operations and advanced model development. He will act as the chief operating officer. The other ex-employee is Steven Offutt, a former senior manager at Faraday Future. He will lead Indi EV’s manufacturing.
What is interesting is the website, which is very understated and sober, unlike some of the hooplas we’ve seen in the EV industry in the past. Indi EV’s site simply states: “We’re a small group of makers and creators of electric vehicles, based in Los Angeles, CA.”
The mission statement is not grandiose. It simply states: “Indi EV is a small group of automotive designers, engineers, and manufacturers who have decided to break away from the stagnant world of automotive megacorps and OEMs. Our team has come together to focus their talents on developing a new method of putting electric vehicles within reach of everyday consumers.”
Yes, you read it well. It sounds as if Indi EV might be true to its name. Independent and affordable, something we’ve been waiting for a long time in the EV world.
The rest of the mission statement alludes to “advanced manufacturing and ownership solutions.” In many ways, it reminds us of the early automotive days of independent brands that can adapt quickly and stay in stride with new tech. Hopefully they learned the lessons of earlier brands in the 1910s and 1950s to stay afloat and liberate us from the lull of mainstream car manufacturers.
EVELOZCITY What?
Next is EVELOZCITY, which filed its paperwork a few months ago. At about the same time, we learned that Faraday Future’s chief financial officer, Stefan Krause, left and started a company in October. Now we know why. He was joined by Richard Kim, Faraday Future’s former head designer.
EVELOZCITY adopted the same sober tone as Indi EV. It simply states that the vision is to “design, develop, and deliver the most competitive, capable, and clean mobility device for the next generation.” Wait a second. Clean mobility device? Now that’s something we can sink our teeth into. Please do tell more.
Great, Now What?
We’ll have to wait a little while before either company answers our many questions. And trust us, we have a few to ask.
Both companies say they are hiring and have tantalizing ways of inviting us to work on cool projects together. Do we want to work on cool projects with both? You bet, and those are not words in the wind!
We welcome the addition of the two new EV startups. This time, at least the two new beginnings seem different from the boisterous fanfare around previous EV startup launches. It almost sounds as if the EV industry is stepping into its early adulthood and away from its rebellious teenage years.
In the meantime, please deliver us from the stagnant world of automotive megacorps and OEMs!
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