LeEco isn't exactly a name in the automotive world, but this Chinese company is finding new venues for its streaming video services in phones, TVs and the LeSee Pro, a new concept car.
Chinese company LeEco, a large video streaming service, made its North American launch with phones, televisions, a smart bicycle and a concept car, the LeSee Pro.
The LeSee Pro is intended to have an electric drivetrain and self-driving capabilities, and can also signal pedestrians with graphics on its front end.
Typical with concept cars, there isn't much information about the LeSee Pro. The See part of the name stands for Super Electric Ecosystem.
LED headlights make sense for an electric car, as they put minimal power drain on the batteries.
LeEco offers no speed, range or power specs for the LeSee Pro, merely asserting its electric drivetrain.
What's most intriguing about the LeSee Pro is that it comes from a company with a primary business far from automotive.
The car has typical sedan seating, with four doors on the sides. However, there is no evidence of door handles.
The design looks as good as many concept cars offered by major automakers.
Two front bucket seats are complemented by a kind of lounge seat in the rear.
The steering wheel would retract when the car enters its self-driving mode.
A screen on the dashboard was shown streaming video in a promotional film, which obviously would not be allowed for a production vehicle.
Rear seat passengers would be able to view LeEco's streaming video content.
The rear seat shows an intriguing layered design, although in this concept it is just hard plastics.
This venting might help the car's aerodynamics, letting air pressure out of the front wheel, unless it's just cosmetic.
Cameras replace traditional side mirrors, a common concept car trope.
Lei Ding, vice chairman of LeEco, said of the LeSee Pro that it is "Not only a car, it's an ecosystem for future mobility."
A pod on top of the LeSee Pro would likely hold laser sensors so it can see its environment, and enable self-driving.
With the LeEco content ecosystem, content would move seamlessly between car, phone and television.
Although LeEco is very bullish on its concept car, it would take a major investment to put it into production.