Volvo's New Concept Wants To Replace Short-Haul Flights

The 360c concept posits the idea of Volvo disrupting the short-haul air travel market
Volvo's New Concept Wants To Replace Short-Haul Flights

We’re used to the idea of manufacturers bringing out autonomous concepts that aim to eventually replace good old-fashioned driven cars, but Volvo has gone one step further. Its entry into the self-driving concept world is called the 360c, and it wants to have a pop at air travel too.

The Swedish company is making the point that 740 million people took domestic flights in the United States, amounting to billions of dollars in revenue for the likes of American Airlines and Southwest. Given that many popular routes - New York to Washington DC being one example - are fairly short, by the time you’ve factored in getting to the airport, clearing security and waiting around, you might end up being taking longer than if you drove.

Volvo's New Concept Wants To Replace Short-Haul Flights

Or, as Volvo is suggesting might be the case in the future, longer than if you boarded an autonomous electric transportation capsule thing. The idea behind the 360c is that the company might one day be able to disrupt the multi-billion dollar airline industry by saving time and offering a “first-class” travel experience.

The Level 5 autonomous vehicle could be used to replace longer flights too. With no steering wheel, multiple interior layouts would be possible, including lie-flat beds. During the day, the 360c could be turned into a mobile office, Volvo suggests.

Volvo's New Concept Wants To Replace Short-Haul Flights

This is all rather hypothetical right now, though - even if Level 5 autonomy even ends up being feasible in the real world, a production version of a vehicle like this would still be decades off. Think of the 360c more as Volvo thinking out loud.
Mårten Levenstam, Volvo’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, said:

“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. We regard the 360c as a conversation starter, with more ideas and answers to come as we learn more.”

Comments

Anonymous

Doesn’t have a toilet like a plane does though……

09/05/2018 - 12:46 |
39 | 0
Elliot.J99

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That’s what the cupholders are for

09/05/2018 - 12:52 |
68 | 1
SirJamjaxIsGoingAgain-PeaceOutChaps

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Could… Yanno… Stop at a service station. It is a car on the ground after all

09/05/2018 - 13:07 |
10 | 0
Wogmidget

Sneaky preview of the control core:

09/05/2018 - 12:56 |
21 | 0
RIP_Fish

I see this

09/05/2018 - 12:57 |
100 | 1

comment of the year

09/09/2018 - 11:54 |
1 | 0

Don’t remind us of our nightmares

12/10/2018 - 18:52 |
0 | 0
Klush

1980: There will be flying cars in the future
2018: Volvo 360c

09/05/2018 - 13:12 |
10 | 1
Anonymous

In reply to by Klush

It doesn’t actually fly…

09/05/2018 - 21:08 |
0 | 5
( ° ʖ °) dead

In reply to by Klush

well it is a flying car

09/06/2018 - 16:57 |
0 | 0
michal9495

I thought that it’s a picture of a headlight XD

09/05/2018 - 13:22 |
4 | 0
TheRacingGoat Mk. II 🐐🐐🐐

Nice campervan, Volvo!

09/05/2018 - 13:47 |
1 | 0
dmackster1124

What about the potholes

09/05/2018 - 14:45 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Hahahah, NO. No one is replacing aircraft for a while.

09/05/2018 - 15:50 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Well, for short haul travel a train would probably be cheaper and more economical to run

09/05/2018 - 18:52 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

It looks like it’s named ‘Bob’

09/05/2018 - 15:56 |
1 | 0
UnknownCat13

“you might end up being taking longer than if you drove.”

What?!?!??

09/05/2018 - 16:25 |
0 | 0

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