VW GEN.TRAVEL Concept Proves: Car Companies HATE Trains

It’s a standard sufficient joke on the EV boards: Elon Musk hates trains. Musk hates trains a lot, actually, that he supposedly put forward the Hyperloop project specifically to disrupt a high-speed rail project in California, all in a bid to promote extra automobiles. Properly, evidently the Tesla CEO Technoking is in good firm amongst his fellow carmakers — and the brand new VW GEN.TRAVEL idea pretty proves it.

Something However Trains

“Volkswagen defines the mobility for generations to come back – sustainable and digital,” says Dr. Nikolai Ardey, Head of Volkswagen Group Innovation, who says the idea is supposed to exchange “quick haul flights,” like this 9-minute flight Elon Musk took last summer. “Within the group-wide Volkswagen Innovation Analysis division, we’re additional advancing this concept, displaying how our clients will have the ability to expertise mobility sooner or later – for instance, as a service. With GEN.TRAVEL, we will already expertise at this time what will likely be potential within the close to future with revolutionary expertise. Door-to-door journey at a brand new stage. Emission-free and stress-free.”

It appears completely stunning, to me, that Volkswagen would put an idea like this ahead — however idea automobiles have a protracted historical past of silliness. And, as foolish ideas go, this one doesn’t appear as foolish as some others. As such, I’m inclined to offer it the good thing about the doubt. That stated, this self-driving software program celebrity has one thing of the vibe of VW Group’s previous CEO about it, and it’s onerous to think about a “drivers’ automotive” man like ex-Porsche head Oliver Blume giving this factor the OK, whilst an idea.

As a wonky, far-off into the long run trying idea, then, there are definitely worse methods to spend the 5 hour drive between Cleveland and Chicago, for instance, than in a comfortable reclining seat whereas your GEN.TRAVEL will get you from A to B. And, if that robotaxi future we hold getting promised involves cross, we’d get to see for ourselves! “The GEN.TRAVEL presents us a glimpse of the journey of the long run,” explains Klaus Zyciora, Head of Volkswagen Group Design. “It exhibits us what autonomous driving will appear like sooner or later. The GEN.TRAVEL embodies the visionary design of past tomorrow for the mobility of tomorrow. Environment friendly shaping characterizes the extraordinarily distinctive design. Thus, in an age of technical perfection and just about limitless potentialities, ‘type follows perform’ turns into ‘type follows freedom.’ The car won’t solely be higher, but in addition extra thrilling than ever earlier than.”

Adequate. As for me, I feel I’d somewhat have a practice.

Amtrak Statement Automotive Walkthrough

Supply | Photos: Volkswagen Group.

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