Volvo has unveiled its latest concept, the Volvo 360c, which is a new take on an autonomous, electric concept that looks to the future. We’ve seen several self-driving concept cars over the years, but Volvo wants to take the technology even further, by showing how its 360c autonomous concept could replace air travel.
Just like other autonomous concepts, the Volvo 360c can operate without the need of a human driver. This opens up the potential uses for the concept, where the interior can be used as a sleeping environment, mobile office, living room or entertainment space.
Volvo highlights how the 360c concept could be a more ideal alternative to short-haul air travel, which consists of trips that are around 200 miles or less. Rather than spending the time to go to an airport, you could simply relax or sleep in the Volvo 360c concept, while it takes you to your destination.
“Domestic air travel sounds great when you buy your ticket, but it really isn’t. The 360c represents what could be a whole new take on the industry,” said Mårten Levenstam, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Volvo Cars. “The sleeping cabin allows you to enjoy premium comfort and peaceful travel through the night and wake up refreshed at your destination. It could enable us to compete with the world’s leading aircraft makers.”
Volvo also sees the Volvo 360c autonomous concept as a way to improve our work-life balance, since it will be able to transform unproductive or boring travel time into useful and enjoyable minutes or hours on the road. You could nap, read a book or just chat with friends, while the 360c takes you to and from work. There’s also the chance that autonomous driving concepts, like the 360c could give people more freedom to move further away from cities, since their longer commutes would be less taxing.
“People becoming less reliant on proximity to cities is just one example of the impact of removing the burden of unproductive travel time,” said Mårten Levenstam. “The 360c driving office makes it viable for people to live at greater distances from crowded cities and use their time both in a more pleasant and more effective way.”
Source: Volvo
