Silk-FAW

Silk-FAW Automotive was an Italian-Chinese automotive joint venture formed by Chinese vehicle manufacturer FAW Group and Italy-based engineering and design company Silk EV. The venture was established in 2020 and publicly launched in February 2021, with its base in Reggio Emilia, a major center of Italy's automotive and motorsport industry. Its stated purpose was to combine FAW's manufacturing and commercial resources with Italian expertise in vehicle styling, engineering, and performance-car development. The company's central project was the Hongqi S9, a high-performance plug-in hybrid hypercar developed under FAW's Hongqi luxury marque. The project originated with the presentation of the Hongqi S9 concept at the 2019 International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Although the concept was described as fully electric, the production-oriented vehicle presented in 2021 used a plug-in hybrid powertrain built around a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and an electric system. Publicly cited performance targets included output of more than 1,300 horsepower and a top speed of close to 250 miles per hour. The car was designed by Walter de Silva, who led Silk-FAW's design activity, and was shown with Hongqi branding rather than as a standalone Silk-FAW model. Silk-FAW announced an investment plan of up to approximately US$1.2 billion for the design, development, and manufacture of high-performance electrified vehicles. The proposed industrial footprint included production in Italy and at FAW facilities in Changchun, China. The company initially indicated that the S9 would be produced in a strictly limited run of 99 cars at a Silk EV facility in Modena. Those plans were subsequently disrupted by legal problems affecting the Italian subsidiary, and the proposed limited production was shifted toward China without a firm public production date or confirmed volume. The venture also described a broader family of vehicles using S-series designations, including the S3, a model referred to in available material as the 35, and the S7. These vehicles were presented as part of a longer-term program of luxury electrified sports cars for Chinese and international markets, but detailed specifications, production schedules, and market launches were not established in the available record. Silk-FAW recruited prominent Italian automotive figures to support the program. Walter de Silva was associated with the design organization from the venture's public launch, and former Ferrari chief executive Amedeo Felisa joined the team in 2021. Despite the high-profile S9 program and appearances at events such as the 2023 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the venture did not establish a clearly documented series-production operation. Available reference material indicates that it was no longer continuing operations after 2023, although a formal dissolution or definitive corporate status is not established here.

Silk-FAW's origins lie in FAW Group's effort to extend the Hongqi marque into high-performance electrified vehicles. In September 2019, FAW displayed the Hongqi S9 concept at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The concept was presented as an electric hypercar and signaled an ambition to move Hongqi beyond its established luxury-sedan and SUV role into the global performance-car segment. To turn the concept into a production vehicle, FAW sought cooperation with Silk EV, an Italian engineering and design company. The two parties established a joint venture in April 2020. The partnership was intended to provide FAW with Italian design and engineering capabilities while giving Silk EV access to Chinese industrial resources, manufacturing capacity, and the broader international reach of the Hongqi brand. The venture was publicly launched in February 2021 under the Silk-FAW name, with Reggio Emilia identified as its Italian base. Walter de Silva was placed in charge of design. His involvement gave the S9 program a strong connection to Italy's high-end automotive design tradition. Former Ferrari chief executive Amedeo Felisa joined the team later in 2021, adding further performance-car experience. Silk-FAW described the collaboration as more than a one-model project: in addition to the S9, it planned a family of luxury electrified sports cars for China and overseas markets, with proposed production in Italy and at FAW's Changchun facilities. The production-oriented Hongqi S9 debuted at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show. Its styling differed substantially from the earlier concept, but the car retained the Hongqi identity and was not marketed as a separate Silk-FAW marque. Contrary to the fully electric description associated with the original concept, the production version was presented as a plug-in hybrid. Its reported specification centered on a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 combined with electric assistance, with claimed output above 1,300 horsepower and a top speed approaching 250 miles per hour. In May 2021, Silk-FAW announced that the S9 would be strictly limited to 99 units and assembled at a Silk EV plant in Modena. The proposed Italian production plan became difficult to execute after legal problems involving the Italian subsidiary of the joint venture. The company subsequently indicated that limited production would instead be transferred to China, but no definitive production date or final allocation was publicly established in the available record. The company continued to present the S9 and to discuss additional S-series vehicles, including the S3, the model identified in available material as the 35, and the S7. These plans were part of a broader strategy to create a portfolio of high-performance electrified cars rather than a single showcase vehicle. However, detailed product development and manufacturing evidence for those additional models remains limited. The S9 was exhibited at the 2023 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy. Available reference material states that Silk-FAW did not continue operations after 2023. Because the record does not establish whether the company was formally dissolved, placed into liquidation, or simply became inactive, its definitive legal status is left as unknown in this dossier.

• 2023

  S9 shown at Villa d'Este

  [1]Silk-FAW Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  The hypercar appeared at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy.

• 2021

  Silk-FAW publicly launched

  [1]Silk-FAW Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  The venture began its public corporate and product-development program from Reggio Emilia, Italy.

• 2021

  Production Hongqi S9 premieres

  [1]Silk-FAW Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  The production-oriented S9 debuted in Shanghai as a Hongqi-branded plug-in hybrid hypercar.

• 2021

  Limited-run S9 plan announced

  [1]Silk-FAW Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  Silk-FAW announced an intended 99-unit production run at a planned Modena facility.

• 2020

  Joint venture established

  [1]Silk-FAW Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  FAW Group and Silk EV established the Silk-FAW joint venture to develop the S9 and other luxury electrified performance cars.

• 2019

  Hongqi S9 concept unveiled

  [1]Silk-FAW Automotiveen.wikipedia.org

  FAW presented the electric Hongqi S9 concept at the Frankfurt motor show, introducing the hypercar project that later became Silk-FAW's main program.

A cross-border Italian-Chinese performance-vehicle venture positioned around ultra-luxury, limited-production, and technologically advanced electrified sports cars.

• Plug-in hybrid hypercar · 2021

  Hongqi S9

  The Hongqi S9 was Silk-FAW's principal and most developed vehicle program. It evolved from FAW's 2019 electric hypercar concept into a Hongqi-branded plug-in hybrid. The production-oriented car was designed by Walter de Silva and used a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with electric assistance. Publicly cited targets included more than 1,300 horsepower and a top speed close to 250 miles per hour. A 99-unit Italian production run was announced, but legal problems affecting the Italian subsidiary disrupted the plan and a definitive series-production program was not established in the available record.

• Planned electrified sports car

  S3

  The S3 was cited as one of the additional S-series vehicles Silk-FAW intended to develop after the S9. Available material identifies it only as part of a planned family of luxury, electrified performance cars and does not provide confirmed technical specifications, launch timing, production details, or market availability.

• Planned S-series performance car

  35

  The model referred to in available reference material as the 35 was listed alongside the S3 and S7 in Silk-FAW's proposed vehicle family. No reliable details on its body style, powertrain, specifications, launch date, or production status are established in the available source material.

• Planned electrified sports car

  S7

  The S7 was identified as another planned member of Silk-FAW's S-series portfolio. It was intended to support the venture's ambition to offer multiple luxury electrified sports cars, but the available record does not confirm a completed prototype, production specification, launch schedule, or commercial release.

• 2023Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este appearance

  Italy · International

  The S9 was exhibited at the prestigious Villa d'Este concours, placing the project in a high-profile setting associated with collector and luxury automobiles.

  Outcome. The appearance maintained visibility for the S9, but no confirmed commercial production followed in the available record.

  Source
• 2021Shanghai Auto Show S9 world premiere

  China · International

  The production-oriented Hongqi S9 was presented at the Shanghai Auto Show as a high-performance plug-in hybrid, emphasizing Silk-FAW's Italian-Chinese development model.

  Outcome. The event provided the project's main public product reveal, but subsequent production plans remained unresolved.

  Source
• 2019Hongqi S9 Frankfurt debut

  Germany · International

  FAW used the Frankfurt motor show to introduce the Hongqi S9 concept and signal an international performance-car direction for the Hongqi brand.

  Outcome. The concept became the foundation for the later Silk-FAW joint-venture program.

  Source

• 2021

  Present the S9 as a Hongqi-branded plug-in hybridProduct launch

  Background

  The original S9 concept had been presented as fully electric, while the production-oriented vehicle was developed as a plug-in hybrid hypercar.

  Action taken

  Silk-FAW retained the Hongqi brand and introduced a powertrain combining a twin-turbocharged V8 with electric assistance.

  Aftermath

  The decision linked the project to FAW's established luxury marque while differentiating the production vehicle from the original concept.

  Source

• 2021

  Announce a 99-unit limited production runStrategy

  Background

  Silk-FAW positioned the S9 as an ultra-exclusive performance vehicle and planned to assemble it at a Silk EV facility in Modena.

  Action taken

  The company announced an intended production volume of 99 cars.

  Aftermath

  Legal problems involving the Italian subsidiary disrupted the Modena plan, and the proposed production was redirected toward China without a confirmed date or final volume.

  Source

• 2021

  Plan a broader S-series portfolioStrategy

  Background

  Silk-FAW described the S9 as the first element of a broader program of luxury electrified sports cars for Chinese and global markets.

  Action taken

  The venture identified the S3, 35, and S7 as additional planned vehicles.

  Aftermath

  The additional models were not documented as commercial products in the available record.

  Source

• 2021

  Plan Italian and Chinese manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  The joint venture sought to combine Italian automotive expertise with FAW's Chinese industrial infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Silk-FAW indicated that vehicles could be produced in Italy and at FAW's Changchun plant in China, alongside an investment plan of up to approximately US$1.2 billion.

  Aftermath

  The Italian production plan encountered legal problems, while the record does not confirm the implementation of the proposed investment or manufacturing footprint.

  Planned investment. Up to approximately US$1.2 billion planned (Announced in 2021)

  Source

1. 1Silk-FAW Automotiveen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Silk-FAW official websitesilkfaw.com