Hyperdrive
Daimler Plots Two-for-One Autonomous Van for City Transport
- German carmaker developing chassis with interchangeable tops
- Electric vehicle designed to boost efficiency, cut emissions
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Daimler AG is developing an autonomous electric vehicle that can toggle between a people carrier and a delivery van, as the German manufacturer seeks an edge over rivals like Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo and Deutsche Post AG in shaping the future of mobility.
The Mercedes-Benz maker’s concept consists of a chassis with two “modules” -- an egg-shaped minibus that can seat as many as 12 and a cargo version -- that can be switched in less than two minutes. The approach is designed to meet the needs of logistics companies and public-transport operators who are short of drivers and want to use their electric vehicles more efficiently, Daimler said in a press release Monday.