is Volvo planning a low cost, electric Robotaxi rival?

It’s in all probability nothing. Just a playful post on social media from a random Volvo account celebrating an obscure concept car from the early aughts. It couldn’t probably imply that Volvo is definitely going to construct the factor … proper?

The put up in query went reside on the Volvo Vehicles Heritage Fb feed final week, and it was easy sufficient. You may test it out for your self, under.

See? Only a few footage of the 3CC, an idea that Volvo designers on the time supposed to be “future proof” and developed with an eye fixed in the direction of sustainability. It was an early hybrid, with regenerative braking and slick aerodynamics together with gullwing doorways and a 1+2 seating association to ease entry and egress.

Nothing to get that enthusiastic about, proper? Besides – why the (wink wink, nudge nudge) on the finish? Might Volvo actually be dropping wild hints about new product on their museum website? Is that wild hypothesis, wishful pondering, or simply sloppy reporting?

Properly, because the newly-minted “Weekend Editor” right here at Electrek (thanks, Fred!), there’s nobody to rein me in till Monday morning, on the earliest – so we’re gonna run with it, no matter it’s.

It positive seems to be like a Robotaxi

I’m not going to accuse Elon of stealing design concepts from Volvo any greater than I’m going to accuse Volvo of stealing the 3CC idea’s design from the OG Honda CRX HF. That stated, they actually do appear to share some conceptual DNA, don’t they?

OK, so we’ve bought some convergent evolution right here – protected to say. However on the automation aspect of issues? On the actual, “the inventory is price principally zero if true self driving isn’t achieved” aspect of the equation?

There’s some convergent evolution there, too, as a result of whereas Tesla’s been creating its extremely publicized FSD software program, Volvo’s dad or mum firm, Geely, has been working hand in hand with Alphabet (learn: Google) to develop their own fully autonomous taxi for Waymo through the ZEEKR brand.

Is it actually that loopy to think about an up to date 3CC idea fitted with the identical Waymo sensor array they’re placing on Hyundais (read about that here) being proven off simply in time to steal Tesla’s thunder from October 10th? Especially on the heels of the EX30’s growing success in Europe?

It’s not – and assume that’s precisely what’s going to occur. That’s my take, anyway. What’s yours? Head on all the way down to the feedback and tell us when you assume Volvo has what it takes to launch a Robotaxi rival within the feedback.

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