Volvo has revealed its latest driverless concept – and it could be a serious alternative to short-haul air travel.
Called the 360c, the autonomous vehicle comes without a steering wheel and, thanks to its all-electric powertrain, produces zero emissions.
As a way to make long-range travel much easier, the 360c can help regular fliers cut out security checks, queuing and being on cramped planes by providing a spacious vehicle for up to four people – with layouts ranging from an office to space for two to sleep.
Volvo’s concept also displayed how driverless vehicles would interact with other road users in the future, with the 360c incorporating visual and audio stimuli to display where the car is going.
The 360c would be able to take people from their front door to their destination without any need for input while on the move – meaning they could use their time more wisely to relax, sleep or do work.
Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars president and chief executive, said: “The travel business will change in the coming years and Volvo should lead that change of our industry.
“Autonomous drive will allow us to take the next big step in safety, but also open up exciting new business models and allow consumers to spend time in the car doing what they want to do.”
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With the lack of any controls inside, Volvo’s designers have capitalised on the space provided and made a vehicle that looks futuristic but is also extremely functional for those needing to work on the go.
Robin Page, Volvo Cars senior vice-president of design, said: “Autonomous vehicle concepts have a tendency to become a technology showcase instead of a vision of how people use it.
“But Volvo is a human-centric brand. We focus on the daily lives of our customers and how we can make them better. The 360c is the next iteration of this approach.”
Volvo has given no word as to whether or not the 360c will be brought into production.
