Report: Chinese Tesla Rival Headed to San Jose
Chinese electric-vehicle startup NextEV has plans for a major research and development center in north San Jose. The company is working toward a mass market battery-powered car by 2017. NextEV is backed by a group of China-based financiers and Internet companies.
The company has leased an 85k SF building at 3200 North First St. The building will serve as a hub for its outposts all over the world and focus on connected car research and energy technologies. Manufacturing is handled in China while design is in Munich.
Several big names in the auto industry have climbed on board, including Martin Leach, former CEO of Maserati and president of Ford Europe. The company aims to have a car released to the Chinese market in 2017. [SVBJ]