Silk-FAW, the three way partnership between Italian engineering startup Silk EV and Chinese language auto large FAW Group, introduced final week that it has employed former Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa.
Felisa is an automotive trade veteran who spent 26 years of his profession with Ferrari, the place he served as CEO between 2008 and 2016.
At Silk-FAW, Felisa will function a particular adviser to Silk-FAW’s senior administration staff as the corporate prepares for a world growth. He’ll particularly be concerned in setting the worldwide technique for the corporate.
The purpose of Silk-FAW is to develop a spread of high-performance, high-luxury electrical automobiles and hybrids for Hongqi, a historic Chinese language luxurious automobile model owned by FAW Group. Vehicles developed by Silk-FAW will probably be bought below a brand new S sequence sub-brand at Hongqi.
Amedeo Felisa
The primary mannequin from the S sequence is the Hongqi S9 hypercar unveiled throughout April’s Auto Shanghai 2021. It is a plug-in hybrid with a V-8 engine and mixed 1,400 hp. Silk-FAW is brief on particulars however the firm claims the automobile will ship 0-62 mph acceleration in 1.9 seconds and a prime velocity of over 250 mph. There may also be sufficient battery capability for a small electrical vary.
The Hongqi S9 was designed by former Volkswagen Group design chief Walter de Silva, who has been employed by Silk-FAW to pen fashions to be bought below the S sequence sub-brand.
“I’ve at all times had a ardour for efficiency automobiles and welcome the possibility to work with Silk-FAW to develop the subsequent era of high-performance luxurious cars,” Felisa mentioned in an announcement. “As we construct high-quality, ultra-luxury sports activities automobiles for each the China and international markets, I sit up for working with your entire staff.”
Whereas Silk-FAW is but to promote any automobiles, Hongqi has loved fast progress since its reboot in 2018 as China’s premier luxurious automobile model. In 2020 it registered greater than 200,000 gross sales from its lineup of sedans and SUVs, or about double the quantity Jaguar bought worldwide.
