When today's passengers hop into ride-hailing vehicles, interior design probably doesn't matter as much as a clean, dry and somewhat comfortable seat.
But those expectations could rise with the arrival of autonomous ride-hailing vehicles.
China's Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is putting its efforts into creating a high-tech environment that will stimulate the passenger's senses during a robotaxi ride.
This week, at its North American headquarters in Novi, Mich., outside Detroit, the company offered reporters a glimpse at its Experience in Motion demonstrator 2020, or XiM20, introduced this year in California.
The concept will tour Yanfeng campuses across the country throughout the year.
The XiM20's interior is divided into two key areas. The airy front observation area is set up as a cafe table against a window, while the rear offers "cocoon-like" lounge seating for passengers to relax.
Some of the high-tech creature comforts are integrated subtly. At the front table, two silver rings rest on either end. When the passenger places a cup on top of the ring, it retracts into the wood, creating a cupholder available only when it's needed.
Another standout feature is the Noveto Smart Audio system. Sensors read the passenger's face and determine where the ears are. The system projects audio around the ears in a "sound bubble" heard only by that passenger.
The lounge area, more geared toward relaxation, can display maps of the passenger's route on the wall. This same wall can give written greetings and goodbyes at the endpoints of the journey.
Yanfeng senior designer Amit Patankar said the supplier works to make sure the high-tech interior allows for human interaction.
"That's what we took as a theme and developed the entire story around. So, talking about interior space, we would want to do more than what we would do in a car now that we don't have to drive it."
— Nick Dombi
