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Audi Believes Autonomous Cars Will Revolutionise Short Business Trips
The automobile industry is affecting the business world in many ways. With tax incentives for companies to select hybrid cars, as well as far cheaper options to maintain parts and accessories for company cars with websites like Mister Auto – corporations can expect big changes surrounding vehicles in the not-too-distant future. And due to a recent statement from Audi, it appears that the business world will irrevocably change even more.
According to Sven Schuwirth, vice president of brand strategy and digital business at the German car manufacturer, self-driving cars will heavily unsettle the airline and hotel industries within 20 years, as people will be able to sleep in their own vehicles while travelling. Speaking to Dezeen.com, Schuwirth said, "Today's cars are shaped to be only an emotional piece and to be very comfortable and safe, [so we believe Audi] can disrupt the entire business of domestic flights.
"We do not believe that the potential of autonomous driving is just about security and comfort," he continued. "Cars are the last place on the planet, besides maybe your room in your flat, where you can be on your own. Maybe you simply want to do something different in your car, such as relax, communicate, talk, dream or think."
Although Audi is predicting this kind of scenario before at least 2035, an article from Business Insider tells of fully autonomous vehicles appearing on our roads before 2019. Furthermore, the report believes that there will be close to 10 million vehicles that will have some sort of automated driving technology in place. Due to safer roads because of automated features, it’s believed that 2,500 lives could be saved between 2014 and 2030. This is on the back of a huge increase in the UK’s motor manufacturing last year, which means the automobile industry has a lot to be excited about in general.
"So in an autonomous world, if cars do not have accidents anymore, the cars [only need to have a] small amount of glass, [yet don't require] a lot of metal, a lot of bumpers and all that stuff. It could be a bit more transparent," Schuwirth concluded. "Once you decide you want to go for an autonomous drive or a piloted drive, then something happens in your car, so your car transforms inside and the interior changes."
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