jaguar land rover unveils electric city car 'project vector'

jaguar land rover has unveiled a new concept vehicle designed to provide autonomous transport in urban environments. called ‘project vector’, it takes the form of an electric shuttle pod that the UK carmaker hopes to put on the road for testing by 2021.

images courtesy of jaguar land rover

the shuttle is autonomy-ready rather than fully self-driving, reflecting the need for a human driver to be on board during the pilot period. it forms part of jaguar land rover‘s ‘destination zero’ mission, an ambition to achieve a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

the compact, flexible vehicle measures just four metres in length and is designed for the city, packaging all its battery and drivetrain components into a flat floor. the interior cabin space allows seating configurations for private, or shared use and even the opportunity for commercial applications, such as last-mile deliveries. 

‘jaguar land rover understands the trends shaping modern societies,’ says jaguar land rover chief executive officer prof sir ralf speth. ‘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.’

the company is working with coventry city council and the west midlands combined authority in the UK to plan a mobility service from late 2021, as a living laboratory for future mobility on the streets of coventry. it aims to address the wider landscape of mobility, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in cities.

project info

company: jaguar land rover
name: project vector
mission: destination zero