IM Motors’ Airo Is an EV That Filters Polluted Air, Doubles as Living Space

Most, but not all. What if there was an electric vehicle that wasn’t just good for the environment, but “actively did good” whenever it was out on the road? What if that same vehicle solved another problem, that of unused real estate, occupied by parked cars, in urban environments?

That vehicle is Airo. It’s ok if the name doesn’t ring a bell.

Airo was unveiled at the 2021 Auto Shanghai event and is meant to be the car of tomorrow, offering solutions for today's problems. It’s the first-ever concept car designed by London-based Heatherwick Studio, on a commission for IM Motors. The latter is a car brand created by automaker SAIC Motor, online retailer Alibaba Group, and the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Group.

Airo is a bold proposal for a very near future: an electric, fully autonomous car that can filter air pollution as it travels and doubles as living space for when it’s not in use. It’s basically a car, an air filter on wheels, and whatever type of lounge you need—also on wheels. Perhaps even bolder than the concept itself is IM Motors’ 2023 deadline for the start of production.

Thomas Heatherwick, founder of the design studio, explains in the video below that the goal with Airo was to create a truly multi-functional vehicle. EVs are good for the environment because they are emissions-free. The Airo is even better, because it incorporates a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtering system that sucks in polluted air and filters it.

“Airo isn’t simply another electric car that doesn’t pollute the air. Instead, using the latest HEPA filter technology, it goes further by also vacuuming-up pollutants from other cars as it drives along,” Heatherwick says in a statement to DeZeen. “Designed to simultaneously address the global space shortage, Airo is also a multi-functional room with extra space for dining, working, gaming or even sleeping. As a new room for our lives, with a changing view, Airo is a car intended to transport us to a cleaner and better future.”

Indeed, Airo addresses the issue of the unused real estate taken up by parked cars, many of which only see a 10% use. To prevent this from happening to Airo, it can double as living space when it’s not used on the road. With the advent of autonomous driving, it can serve as a living space when it’s on the road, as well. Until then, it will have to do it while parked.

The front seats swivel around to face the interior, which is customizable. You can turn the Airo into a dining room for four, a gaming pod or entertainment lounge for two, or even a comfortable bedroom because the seats recline all the way down and are highly comfortable. While covered in panels of glass, the Airo will use self-tinting technology to ensure privacy for those inside, depending on the use they give the Airo.

“Designed to simultaneously address the global space shortage, Airo is also a multi-functional room with extra space for dining, working, gaming or even sleeping,” Heatherwick explains. “As a new room for our lives, with a changing view, Airo is a car intended to transport us to a cleaner and better future.”

Accompanying the Airo is a specially designed charging station described as “oozing with character” that resembles an industrial or vintage-style faucet. It’s made of weathered steel and comes with a retractable wire to be as less intrusive against the urban background as possible.

Heatherwick Studio and IM Motors are convinced Airo will go into production in 2023.