Aston Martin Signs Up Phone Maker LeEco For Electric Cars

Electric cars could be about to get a whole lot more luxurious after James Bond’s favourite car maker revealed it is working on the technology.

Aston Martin has signed a deal with upstart Chinese phone manufacturer LeEco to work together on connected vehicles, with the former’s first electric car based on its existing RapidE S model the first aim.

The car, which will be built at Aston Martin’s factory in Gaydon, Warwickshire, will hit the market in 2018, the company confirmed, making it the latest in a series of new vehicles being developed using electric power.

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The two companies do have previous in working together, as last month Aston Martin revealed an Aston Martin Rapide S incorporating LeEco’s Internet of the Vehicle (IOV) system.

“Aston Martin are dedicated to developing a range of cars with low emission technologies,” said Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer. “We have been encouraged by the project speed and technical depth shown by Letv in the development of the RapidE concept towards full production.”

LeEco (formerly known as Letv) is little known in the West at the moment, but hit the headlines during CES last month when it became the first manufacturer to include Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 820 processor in its devices.

It is also known for backing Faraday Future, the Californian start-up that is working on electric, self-driving cars that could be made public through a subscription-based business model.

“In China we have around 300 million people who visit our website. We could advertise the Aston Martin for free. And we can use celebrities to promote our vehicle. This is the way we do business,” said Lei Ding, co-founder of LeEco’s auto division

“We have been targeting the highest standard in the auto industry in terms of design, R&D and manufacturing of our electric cars. We hope that, by strengthening collaborations with Aston Martin, our future models will provide premium qualities and delicate arts and crafts as good as those of Aston Martin.”

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