Driverless 'Pod' Paves Way for Smartphone-Summoned Transport

Can the non-threatening design help with public acceptance?

The non-working prototype of the Lutz Pathfinder, released in February 2015.

Source: Transport Systems Catapult
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It's more golf cart than VW Golf, but this self-driving two-seater “pod” represents the cutting edge of the emerging British autonomous vehicle industry.

The first electric Lutz Pathfinder, which is smaller than a Smart car, launched in Milton Keynes today before tests in pedestrianized areas at a top speed of 15 miles per hour. The trial hopes to pave the way to a new mode of public transport that can be summoned with a smartphone.