Autonomous pods for ride-sharing are not new on the scene, but few others before have dared take the idea of wellness and socializing to such extremes as the Cadillac PAV concept.
Unveiled at the virtual CES 2021, this PAV (Personal Autonomous Vehicle) from GM’s Cadillac is still shaped like a box – or toaster, or egg, depending on how you look at it – but it’s a genuine party bus inside. And then some.
This is how you do luxury ride-sharing. The pod has no windows so as to encourage riders to look at each other and socialize, Michael Simcoe, GM’s VP of Global Design, explained at the presentation. If they’re not in the mood for chit-chatting, they can always look up, where an expansive glass roof will offer breathtaking views of the city. The upper part of the city, but still.
This pod is meant as a “social space for a group of friends or family to spend time together on their way to a destination,” but of the highest quality. Biometric sensors embedded in the seats allow users to adjust settings like ambient noises, lighting, temperature, and aromatics. There’s also voice control and gesture recognition, for even easier control of these settings.
Because there’s no need for a driver anymore, the interior cabin is converted into a lounge-like area with seating for four or more people. The CES 2021 presentation did not include a good look at the cabin, but the video called “The First Night Out That Stayed in the Car” available on the GM page does that. In fact, it shows nothing else but the interior.
In addition to all the features above, riders will also get a virtual fireplace in the back because nothing says luxury like a fireplace. The large touchscreen for the controls will offer biometric readings for every passenger at the start of the ride, in addition to ride-related data.
In the same video, the pod is described as “a vehicle made for a girls’ night in, in the middle of a girls’ night out,” which further enforces the idea that this is a party bus in its most luxurious and technologically-advanced form. That said, perhaps it’s best it doesn’t have actual windows.
The Cadillac pod makes an appearance in the video below at the 6.53-minute mark. Screenshots from the other video are available in the gallery.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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