Zeekr M-Vision previews self-driving minivan

GEELY Automotive has unveiled the Zeekr M-Vision Concept, which the Chinese company claims to provide “a glimpse into the future of mobility” through its purpose-designed battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform that facilitates the development of fully autonomous driving.

Zeekr specialises in luxury BEVs and is responsible for the 2023 Zeekr 009 electric people mover that is said to offer a driving range of more than 1000km using battery technology from Contemporary Amperax Technology (CATL). 

As well as spending multiple billions of dollars on technology, including autonomous driving development, Geely Automotive is leveraging its automotive connections to access and share new advancements.

The company has significant stakes in leading manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin Lagonda, a developing partnership with Renault and outright ownership of Lotus, Volvo, Proton, smart and Polestar as well as a grab bag of Chinese automotive brands.

Geely is a rapidly growing player in Chinese BEV production, lists London Electric Vehicle Company, Radar New Energy Automotive and Geely New Energy Vehicles among its assets and is busily developing automotive technology such as Level 5 autonomous driving.

Level 5 autonomous driving means full driving automation where vehicles do not require human attention as the “dynamic driving task” is eliminated. 

As such, Level 5 cars do not have steering wheels or accelerator/brake pedals are free from geo-fencing and able to go anywhere and do anything that an experienced human driver can do.

Hands off, fully autonomous cars are undergoing testing in several pockets of the world, but none are yet available to the general public.

In late November, Zeekr revealed its new SEA-M architecture that is a refinement of its original Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) from a couple of years ago.

According to Zeekr, the SEA-M platform was developed to support a range of future autonomous mobility products including robotaxis, people movers and logistics vehicles.

Because Level 5 autonomy dispenses with a driver, Zeekr’s Sweden-based designers and engineers were presented with an opportunity to develop vehicles around passengers. 

The striking M-Vision people mover concept is how Zeekr designers imagined some of these vehicles would look.

It is touted as being “intelligent, friendly, confident and adaptable,” and was solely designed by Zeekr for the purpose of ride-sharing. 

Geely says the vehicle is “a personal assistant when it comes to mobility, offering many opportunities for its users. M-Vision will safely take riders where they want to go, providing an effortless and luxurious way to save time”. 

Designers wanted to create a welcoming exterior appearance for the concept that would make people feel comfortable, safe and relaxed on approach, likening it to a friendly and trusting friend coming to greet you.

To that end, sensors brighten when the vehicle is parked, inviting riders inside while hinting at the car’s intelligence. 

So called “Swipe Doors” are fitted for easy ingress and egress while not compromising safety.

When a rider (passenger) approaches the vehicle, a button on the door illuminates and with a simple touch, the doors will swipe open to let them in.

Geely says the vehicle’s windows have been elongated, giving occupants a much more extended view and further enhancing the feeling that it is a vehicle designed for passengers. 

Inside, Geely says the vehicle is styled on the lines of a mobile living room, a movable office to have meetings, a study room for kids to do their homework, or just a relaxing place to catch up on some sleep.

Passengers can watch a show on one of the screens or plug in a personal device to catch up on work.

The customisable interior can be rejigged to suit numerous applications including the provision of a foldaway table if requested.

Designers looked to furniture for interior inspiration instead of the automotive space.

They decided on an aesthetic that created minimal distraction – speakers and air vents are hidden and buttons and gadgets minimised – to enhance openness and cleanliness; some might describe it as a Swedish look.

Wool upholstery is used for seat facings and other fascias, with colours and patterns that remind people of home and the office. 

Geely says the M-Vision demonstrated what autonomous drive is all about; to not have to focus on driving. 

“M-Vision is not just a car, it’s an extension of each user’s personal space,” the company said in a statement.