The New Kid on the Block

The Beijing Auto Show this year was a hotbed of activity. Take for example, the autonomous, electric LeSEE concept car which is posed to take a stab at the Model S.

The LeSEE was designed and created by the Chinese consumer technology company LeEco. Now, here’s some insider information: the CEO of LeEco, Jia Yueting, is the primary investor in the secretive Faraday Future who is working on some of the most advanced autonomous electric cars. Well, consider the autonomous technology of the LeSEE a proof of concept and a mass market car with tech from Faraday in it.

Autonomous technology is the pinnacle of this car. During the reveal, Jia Yueting summoned the car on his phone, showing that they have developed precise autonomous technology. Tesla, watch out, these guys know what they are doing!

The car is claimed to get up to 130 MPH and there are no definite words on charge. Expect performance that rivals the Model 3, but a car that has the 300 mile range of a Model S. Speaking of charging, they showed these renderings of having the car charge when it is parked through the ground with no wires at all!

Moving onto the aesthetics, the LeSEE takes some cues from the Aston Martin Rapide. However, it features a futuristic front fender and the body looks as if the wind would effortlessly slip off of the car. Inside renderings show an 23rd century inspired cockpit with these visionary terraced back seats. Oh, by the way, no steering wheel!

So, why would a smartphone manufacturer want to take a dive into autonomous cars? Simply to control the whole market of revolutionary consumer tech-from the phones that people play games on to the TVs they use at home to the cars they use to get around. In their release video, I caught a glimpse of LeMusic on one of the screens and during the presentation, the car was controlled by a LeEco phone! For the future, these guys plan to charge for the services only and not for the LeSEE, something that could kill Tesla!

So, Jia Yueting in one corner and the Musk man in the other. Who will win? Just wait three to five years for the production model to be up and running. By that time, it will be survival of the fittest. I’m actually rooting for the LeSEE, what do you guys think?