Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has unveiled its new concept vehicle, Project Vector, as part of its Destination Zero programme, which is working towards the vision of an autonomous, electric, connected future for urban mobility.
JLR Project Vector
Photo: Jaguar Landrover
JLR have described its Destination Zero mission as "an ambition to make societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner". The company’s focus is on achieving a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion, which it says it will achieve through "relentless innovation", through its products and services and across its facilities.
The Project Vector concept vehicle is intended to showcase an advanced, flexible, multi-use electric vehicle that is ‘autonomy-ready’.
At the reveal, JLR CEO, Prof. Sir Ralf Speth, commented: “Jaguar Land Rover understands the trends shaping modern societies. Project Vector shows Jaguar Land Rover as a leader in innovation to make our societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner. Through this project, we are collaborating with the brightest minds in academia, supply chain and digital services, to create connected, integrated mobility systems – the fundamental building blocks for Destination Zero.”
“Project Vector is precisely the brave and innovative leap forward needed to deliver on our mission,” Speth added.
The vehicle concept measures four metres in length and is designed primarily for city use, packing all its battery and drivetrain components into a flat floor, to allow a variety of uses. The interior cabin space allows seating configurations for private, or shared use and even the opportunity for commercial applications, such as last mile deliveries.
Project Vector was developed at the National Automotive Innovation Centre "to gain the advantages of working with agility and close collaboration with academic and external partners," JLR said in a statement.
It will also address the wider mobility landscape, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in cities.
Dr. Tim Leverton, Project Director said: “The megatrends of urbanisation and digitalisation make connected urban mobility systems necessary and inevitable. Shared and private vehicles will share spaces with and be connected to public transit networks, so you can travel on demand and autonomously. That is a complex task, best achieved by working together with partners across the spectrum of vehicles, infrastructure and the digital world."
“With the technology and engineering power of Jaguar Land Rover, we can provide a unique opportunity for innovators to develop highly-functional urban mobility services, seamlessly integrated into everyday life."
“Future urban travel will be a composite of owned and shared vehicles, access to ride hailing and on-demand services as well as public transport. Our vision shows the vehicle as a flexible part of the urban mobility network that can be adapted for different purposes,” Leverton concluded.
JLR is also set to collaborate with Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to plan a mobility service from late 2021, as a living laboratory for future mobility on the streets of Coventry.
Professor Dr Gero Kempf, Chief Engineer said: “It’s also a unique opportunity – a concept platform designed and engineered around urbancentric use cases by a major car maker as a blank canvas, for developing tailored services and apps in the ecosystem of a smart city.”
Back to Homepage
Back to Transportation