(Yicai Global) March 17 -- Faraday Future, an electric car startup founded by Chinese businessman Jia Yueting, named a former executive vice president of Chery Jaguar Land Rover as its chief executive officer in China.

Chris Chen will assist in accelerating the launch of Faraday Future’s first model, the FF91, in the Chinese market and will also benefit the implementation of its US-China dual market strategy, the California-based firm said on its official WeChat account today.

Chen, 45, has nearly 20 years of experience in the auto industry, having worked for Changan Ford, Changan Mazda and Chery Jaguar Land Rover. He was promoted to EVP of Chery Jaguar Land Rover, a joint venture between China’s Chery Auto and the UK’s Jaguar Land Rover, in November 2015, making him the youngest Chinese person in charge of a JV carmaker in China.

Faraday Future said Chen will be responsible for project implementation, production strategies, development of localized products as well as the building of user ecosystems. He will also become a global partner, the statement added.

After the bankruptcy of Faraday Future’s founder Jia, the company announced a plan in January to list on the Nasdaq Stock Market through a special purpose acquisition corporation, or SPAC. That merger is expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year, it said today.

In addition, the company yesterday revealed progress in FF91’s winter testing via WeChat, saying the model was expected to enter the market in the first half of 2022.

Editor: Peter Thomas