Volkswagen Sedric dreams of electric future

Volkswagen has hinted at its plans for 30 electric models by 2025 with a hands-free, electrified concept car called Sedric shown at Geneva.

That's Sedric as in 'self-driving car', not as in your uncle Cedric or the long-departed Nissan Cedric sedan.

Sedric was unveiled on the eve of this week's Geneva motor show by Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller who described it as an "ideas platform" and "the father" of a proposed family of autonomous vehicles.

The Volkswagen concept has been designed to share its platform with other brands within the company's empire, allowing a simplified adoption of autonomous models wearing badges as diverse as Skoda and Audi, as well as even Porsche and Lamborghini.

Mr Mueller said Sedric demonstrated how an integrated mobility system of the future could function and how autonomous vehicles could make life in cities better, more eco-friendly and safer.

Volkswagen said the concept could be a private transport vehicle or be operated as a ride-share car that could remotely run the children to school, act as a short-haul transit medium between public transport terminals, or collect goods from the shopping centre.

It is capable of dropping its occupants off and then finding it's own parking bay, and then responding to a call to return to a pick-up point either on demand or at a predetermined time.

The design group said a key to the vehicle's design was simplicity and the ability to interact with its human occupants.

Sedric, which is aimed at the more affluent market as reflected by its luxurious cabin and four-only seating, is a Level 5 autonomous vehicle so has no allowance for human intervention. That means no pedals and no steering wheel.

To ensure ease of access and occupant comfort, Sedric has wide-opening doors, a large cabin area, facing seats and space between the seats for luggage.

The windscreen is a full-width OELD (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screen that becomes a communication and entertainment centre, though Volkswagen said passengers are equally able to switch off and close their eyes.

Sedric was developed by Volkswagen's German-based Future Centre Europe in Potsdam and Volkswagen Group Research in Wolfsburg.

The design group said a key to the vehicle's design was simplicity and the ability to interact with its human occupants.

Volkswagen said the car's functionality was completely intuitive and allowed passengers to communicate with the car about the destination, driving route and times, the current traffic situation and even plan a short break on the way.

The company said it has 37 "competence centres and digital labs" around the world working on future technologies under its Together – Strategy 2025 plan for e-mobility.

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