As assistant editor for mobility, Shiraz Ahmed reports on smart cities, startups, suppliers and the road map to our autonomous future. He has developed some ideas on what the mobility industry will look like in 2030 and what it will take for service providers to succeed.
It's a Monday morning in 2030 and you're ready for the robo-commute to work.
Here are your choices: Book a trip with EconoRide, a free service derived from what was previously a national rental car company. EconoRide packs 20 commuters into a self-driving shuttle bus with rigid metal seats and makes money by badgering riders with an incessant stream of targeted advertising.
Or indulge yourself with Magic Carpet, a private autonomous car service operated by a high-end carmaker that will let you sink into a cushy seat, enjoy a morning mimosa and relax with a virtual reality meditative session.
These are imaginary companies, but this is how prognosticators see the future in the mobility business.