heatherwick studio unveils AIRO, an electric car that cleans other car's pollution

heatherwick studio has collaborated with chinese electric vehicle brand IM motors on AIRO — a concept electric car with a customizable interior that filters pollution. launched at the shanghai motor show, the car — which is expected to go into production in 2023 — features both autonomous and driver-controlled modes and runs completely on electric power. 

images by heatherwick studio

with AIRO, IM motors and heatherwick studio have a great environmental mission. electric power means no fossil fuel pollutants, but the car goes even further as it’s equipped with a HEPA filtering system that cleans the surrounding air. the active filtering system takes the pollution from other vehicles as it passes through the under-carriage and cleans it.

an autonomous car means its interiors need to be designed differently as they ultimately become a functional room. AIRO’s interiors can be configured into multiple functional spaces like a lounge, a gaming pod or a sleeping room among others. the seats rotate to face each other for social activities like dining on the table that neatly folds away, while a foldable screen can be used for watching movies or playing games. when tired, the contoured seats fully recline to form a spacious double bed. using the latest technology in glass, the fully glazed roof becomes opaque on command for total privacy.

‘AIRO isn’t simply another electric car that doesn’t pollute the air. instead, using the latest HEPA filter technology, it goes further by also vacuuming-up pollutants from other cars as it drives along,’ said thomas heatherwick, founder of heatherwick studio. ‘designed to simultaneously address the global space shortage, AIRO is also a multi-functional room with extra space for dining, working, gaming or even sleeping. as a new room for our lives, with a changing view, AIRO is a car intended to transport us to a cleaner and better future.’

heatherwick studio has also designed the charging stations for IM motors. created with industrial materials including weathered steel, the charging station wants to become part of the urban fabric for decades to come.

project info:

name: AIRO
created by: IM motors
in collaboration with: heatherwick studio

project team credits:

founder: thomas heatherwick
group leader: stuart wood
project leader: tom glover
project team: charlotte mccarthy, sam johnson, matt robson, dirce medina, fabian hubner, elisa simonetti, ian ng, matthijs la roi