Autonomous vehicles must be inclusive
By Freddie Holmes2023-01-26T11:21:00
If autonomous vehicles are the future of mobility, they must meet the needs of all riders
It’s not often that a stranger would come up and hug him, but that’s exactly what happened to Richard Chung, chief branding officer at Toyota Boshoku, during this year’s CES. Showcasing the supplier’s latest work – an autonomous shuttle – it became clear that unlike many concepts of this nature, it actually lives up to the promise of universal accessibility.
Ensuring those with disabilities have an accessible, affordable and comfortable means of travel should be a top priority for players in the AV space; these are members of society that can be marginalised and may not have the luxury of private transportation or suitable public transit. Toyota Boshoku’s shuttle is designed to be accessible for all, and even includes a specially-designed wheelchair that safely integrates within the cabin.
“We had an overwhelming response,” says Chung of the MX concept at CES.