Volvo has presented a futuristic fully autonomous electric concept car that could rival domestic flights. Volvo’s product strategy chief Marten Levenstam says this car is “a conversation starter, with more ideas and answers to come as we learn more.”
Volvo’s concept helps passengers pass the time with sleep, work, entertainment and lounge configurations. Volvo also sees the 360c as a replacement for short-haul flights. For example trips between New York and Washington, LA and San Francisco could be taken in the vehicle instead of on a plane and more comfortable. Riding in the 360c would actually be quicker, factoring in the time you spend getting to and from the airports and all waiting, travelling on the road can easily be more time-saving.
Like most autonomous vehicle concepts, because there’s no driver’s seat to work around, the cabin can be configured in a number of ways. Passengers enter through a wide gullwing door, which could lead to a spacious living room setup with a seat that can convert to a bed, or a mobile conference room.
When the Wright brothers took to the skies in 1903, they did not have a clue about what modern air travel would look like,” said M rten Levenstam, Volvo’s senior vice president of corporate strategy, in a release. “We do not know what the future of autonomous drive will hold, but it will have a profound impact on how people travel, how we design our cities, and how we use infrastructure.”