SEDRIC concept car will drive VW's journey to becoming mobility services provider

Volkswagen has signalled its ambition to move from vehicle manufacturer to an integrated provider of hardware, software and digital mobility services by announcing an autonomous vehicle concept that will form the basis of a diverse family of models.

The company presented latest version of the SElf-DRIving Car (SEDRIC), the group’s first concept car, at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2017 in Frankfurt/Main. The SEDRIC concept combines fully automated driving at Level 5, electrification and digital networking.

“Our team is already working on ideas for an entire SEDRIC family. This will range from fully autonomous vehicles for the city, through luxurious long-distance mobility and spectacular sports cars, self-driving delivery vans and heavy trucks," said Matthias Müller, chief executive of Volkswagen.

Johann Jungwirth, chief digital officer of the VW Group, said: “The initial self-driving vehicles will be seen on the streets of the first cities from 2021. There will be an exponential development taking place across a large number of regions.”

Users will summon a SEDRIC using the Volkswagen OneButton mobility app or a digital assistant. Because the vehicle will be fully automated, VW Group predicts its users will include people who are currently not able to drive conventional cars. “SEDRIC will make a huge social contribution because it offers individual mobility to visually-impaired people, members of the older generation, physically-challenged individuals and children,” said Jungwirth. “Furthermore, the fully autonomous mobility concept gives back around 38,000 hours to each person – for reading, learning, enjoyment, relaxation, playing and working."

SEDRIC is the result of cooperation between the Future Centre Europe in Potsdam and Volkswagen Group Research. The SEDRIC vehicle dispenses with an engine bonnet, instead the boxy exterior is defined by bodywork pillars, large windows covered wheels and short overhangs. Inside there is no steering wheel or conventional driving position.

Michael Mauer, head of design at the VW Group, said: “The portal-style doors are inviting, the lounge atmosphere in the interior without a steering wheel and pedals provides all the occupants with enjoyable mobility and an unrestricted view through large window areas and a varied infotainment programme. The headlamps provide a design feature and take on the function of eyes. They make visual contact with people in the immediate surroundings and interact with them.”

While SEDRIC has been designed for shared mobility in the urban environment, vehicles can be individually custom configured where ownership is required. Volkswagen said its Modular Electrification Building box (MEB) design offers scope to design brand-specific features for mobility of the future.

The VW Group said it would use SEDRIC to demonstrate advances in autonomous driving, electrification and digital networking. "In these areas, SEDRIC is a cross-brand ideas platform for continuous technological developments that allow us to deliver answers to important issues for society in the key areas of environmental protection, demographic change, business and traffic safety," said Ulrich Eichhorn, head of research and development at the VW Group. 

The central development areas will include: identification of the surrounding environment with cameras; 360-degree lidar sensors; long and short-distance radar and ultrasound sensors; a hardware and software architecture for data processing; a computer and software that replace the person as a driver; and electrification of the drive.

VW Group is also working on human-machine interfaces based around digital voice assistants, touchscreens and gesture control, as well as digital services for the personalisation of the mobility experience.

“The plethora of experience and the technological expertise that we have gained through the advanced development of SEDRIC will benefit all brands and therefore also our customers,” said Eichhorn.