Volvo 360c previews autonomous future

Volvo has revealed a new 360c concept that's said to preview an autonomous future in which its customers will prefer to be driven rather than fly short-haul to their destination.

According to the Swedish car maker, its new battery-powered car features the Holy Grail of autonomous driving and comes with Level 5 capability that requires absolutely no driver input, hence the lack of pedals and steering wheel.

This has helped designers and engineers to ditch the traditional approach to interior design, allowing the 360c to come with multiple configurations that include a mobile living room, office or even a place to entertain friends (read: get drunk with your mates.)

Claimed by its creators to be more of a "conversation starter" than a fully finished proposal for a future production car, Volvo still believes driverless cars like the 360c will have a "profound impact on how people travel", hence the Swedish car-maker thinks people will prefer them to aircraft for shorter flights.

In Europe, for example, Volvo says most people will prefer a driverless car and its fold-flat bed to a 300km short flight. Volvo even suggests if you cut out travel to and from the airport, security checks and the actual flight, the car will be quicker.

It says the move (back) to using cars could reduce the number of people flying short-haul domestic routes in the US alone by up to 740 million a year.

The other advantage of driverless sleeping pods is that workers could commute to their meetings overnight, saving down-time lost during the day while flying and reducing the stress involved with modern air travel.

Volvo also stresses that autonomous vehicles will offer a significant improvement in safety and reduction in pollution compared to taking a plane.

Finally, the ambitious Scandinavian brand says cars like the 360c could steal customers away from buses and trains because they offer greater comfort, convenience and privacy.