Faraday Future Moves Forward with Body-in-White Model

Faraday Future Inc. says it has completed the first body-in-white production build for its upcoming FF 91 luxury SUV/crossover and is on track to start customer deliveries in December.

The struggling startup started taking orders for the FF 91 in January and currently is in the final phase of validating performance on Germany’s high-speed autobahn. Pricing is expected to start in the low $100,000 range.

Faraday converted a former Pirelli tire factory in Hanford, Calif., into an assembly facility after financial problems caused it to drop plans for a $1 billion plant in Nevada. The Chinese-backed company reportedly raised about $2 million during its latest of funding, a large portion which is said to be contingent on achieving various development and production milestones.

The FF 91's body-in-white was assembled using several new manufacturing technologies. This includes more than 1,500 self-piercing rivets that hold the car’s aluminum and steel structure together, aluminum resistant spot welding, cold-metal-transfer welding and “transducerized” torque tools, which Faraday says enhances traceability, error-proofing and precision.

The FF 91’s three electric motors are expected to produce a combined 1,050 hp. Faraday maintains the car will have a zero to 60 mph time of less than three seconds and a driving range of more than 300 miles.