Pininfarina has tried its hand at designing an autonomous shuttle for the new mobility company, Holon, and the results are pretty much the same as everyone else’s. A toaster with wheels, the Holon Mover does, at least, include a number of features to make it more accessible than the majority of other vehicles.
Holon and Pininfarina say the Mover was designed “from the ground up to be inclusive.” That means that, in addition to featuring autonomous technology, it also has a ramp to help passengers with mobility issues in and foldable seats with locks in the floor designed specifically to secure wheelchairs.
The interior has also been designed to feature braille wherever necessary, to help the seeing impaired. After years of listening to automakers claim that autonomous vehicles will be the saviors of the differently abled, it’s nice to finally see someone put some actual effort into reducing a vehicle’s physical barriers, not just its operational barriers. In addition to being accessible, the Mover is also intended to be comfortable, says Silvio Pietro Angori, the CEO of Pininfarina.
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“The vehicle design combines two character traits—friendly and inviting as well as technologically advanced and clear. That goes for both the exterior and interior. It immediately makes the Holon mover a design icon,” said Angori. “Every detail of the vehicle is designed to make passengers feel more comfortable and safer than in any other mode of transportation.”
The Mover’s autonomous functionality will be based on Mobileye Drive. Filled with redundant sensors, innovative mapping technology, and advanced driving software, the company promises that the Holon Mover will always make the right decision on the road.
Holon says that it already has its first pilot project lined up in Hamburg with Hochbahn, Germany’s second-largest mass transit company. It will also work with Beep in the U.S., which will put the first Movers on the road there. In addition, it’s looking for other customers, such as airports, campuses, and national parks.
“Our Mover is an answer to social megatrends: Urbanization, climate change, demographics – mobility needs to change,” said Marco Kollmeier, Holon’s managing director. “With our mover, we are proving that emission-free, safe, comfortable and inclusive passenger transportation is possible. And thus provides the answer to traffic problems that are becoming prevalent in cities. We are delighted to unveil the vehicle to the global public today.”
