Unpacking VW’s autonomous future.

Varun Adibhatla
Jul 30, 2017 · 4 min read

Marginal observations of a vision of our urban future, from the world’s largest automaker.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen introduced Sedric to the world, adding to the tropes of futuristic visions on urban autonomy. During this time, I was also researching Autonomous vehicles for cities.

By this point, the team I was part of amassed a full day’s viewing worth of shiny AV future videos ranging from the conservatively plausible to the outright bat $hit crazy outrageous.

VW’s stood out because 1) it represented the bias and thinking of one of the world’s largest auto manufacturer and 2) the video incorporated a certain level of detail in its surroundings that made me want to look closer.

What follows is a B-roll, stream of consciousness, of my research which I think lead to interesting questions for autonomous urban transportation policy making.


Scene 1 : The intersection / overhead / topsight view.

Overhead view / Ant Car.
  • The prevalence of Digital Signage.
  • Evidence of platooning?. The vehicle at the top of screengrab seems to be hauling freight/people.
  • Single person capacity vehicles (I’m calling these Ant-cars) seem to be all over. Perhaps an evolution of 2 wheelers? Perhaps Delivery vehicles?
  • Limosine++ to accommodate Mid-Day Ganja Tours perhaps? On closer look though they appear to be modular pods joined together into a single chassis.
Limosine++ for Autonomous Ganja Tours? via VICELAND’s Munchies
  • ‘50s Cadillac— A comeback for retro-nostalgic/future aesthetics?
  • Pedestrians appear oblivious to traffic. No visible signs of any walk/stop signs although traffic lights still exist.
  • What may be the ratios of Shared:Personal AVs and Commercial:Public Service Bots?

Scene 2: Junction / Sedric departs

  • HYPERLOOP presence. But of course. How do noise profiles change in this future city?
  • The Party Bus, Tesla Model S3 and the comeback of the VW Hippy Van?

Scene 3 : In-motion / Sedric front-view

  • I still don’t get these Ant cars and 3-wheeler pods.
  • Curbside Pick-up & Drop off points. Payphones!? Clearly the LINK-NYC has not been deployed in this SanFrancis-okyo-iami.
  • Trash Can and not Big Belly!? Sacré bleu!
  • None of the Traffic lights appear to work. Perhaps they are just no longer needed and the city is dismantling large sections of their Traffic light infrastructure?

  • The people carriers remind me of the Hop On/Hop Off buses and StormTrooper Transports.
  • Vehicles travel very close to each other, are always in motion except when on the curbside.
  • Bumpy streets & Street cuts — NYC, for example, is famously stuck with utility access on the streets as opposed to Paris (on sidewalks). Cities will always need to open up the streets. Street construction rules may need to be redesigned around AVs. (More emphasis on signage?)
HopOn/Off Buses — StormTrooper Transports — Street Construction

Scene 4 : Panorama / Final

Pickup-&-DropOff ports have advertisements. (DUH!) “FUTURE IS NOW”


Dominant visual elements.

  • Lots of clear Glass! Long $GLW.
  • Sun + Day + Fair weather. Summery attire. Complete absence of people with accessibility needs. Automakers hardly ever think about vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled, children and special needs.)
  • LIDAR bumps and cameras replace mirrors.
  • Everything seems to be moving < 25mph — perhaps restricted by software/hardware.

What’s missing, but expected.

  • Big Yellow Cabs.
  • Bike lanes, Bikes, Motorcycles — ZERO 2-wheeled transport! :(
  • Sidewalk delivery bots.
  • Updated Street Furniture.
  • Traffic dividers.
  • Street construction & Traffic cops.
  • Food trucks and vendors.
  • Skateboards.
  • Public safety / Cops — Ambulance / Fire Engines.
  • …..any more?

Easter Egg

The Red dress woman

….from the MATRIX.

Further Reading

Official statement from Volkswagen introducing the Sedric concept.

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