Silk EV is an engineering and design startup based in Italy’s motor Valley. It’s the latest arrow in the quiver for China’s massive belt and road project. The first that deals with electric cars deals with the first of China’s electric cars.

Silk EV will co-develop an’ultra-luxury hypercar’ with first automobile works. The S9 will be part of the Chinese automaker’s longstanding hongqi brand.

Silk Ev said the vehicles it makes with Faw will’deliver to China and the world the next-generation of luxury new energy vehicles’. The car is being designed by Walter de Silva, who has styled vehicles for Alfa Romeo, Audi, and Lamborghini.

China’s belt and road initiative is a massive effort to spin up infrastructure projects across Asia, Europe, and Africa. The projects span dozens of countries and vary in size and scope. There are massive railways, hydropower plants, dams, and bridges.

China has been accused of saddling some of its smaller partners with debt. Other projects have been criticized for favoring, or even requiring, the use of Chinese construction companies during unusually opaque bidding process.

The best of China’s many EV startups have long aimed to expand outside the country. Only one of the cars has followed through on that promise.

Faw is an unsurprising partner for silk EV. The company’s honqi brand is recognizable throughout China. Faw has helped kickstart EV startup byton.

Byton once had its own ambitions but ran into financial trouble last year. It is now retreated from the US and reportedly being rolled up into Faw.

Italy was the first G7 nation to endorse the belt and road initiative. It is also a political partner for a project like this.

The joint venture with silk EV’marks a major milestone under the belt and road initiative for China, Italy and the global automotive industry’.