Arrival is moving beyond electric buses and delivery vans as the company has unveiled their first Car prototype. Designed specifically for ride-hailing services, the prototype was created with the assistance of Uber drivers and built in six months.
Arrival didn’t say much about the
prototype, but it’s roughly the same size as a Volkswagen Golf and features a
boxy design that maximizes space. However, the boxy appearance is broken up by
a large windscreen that flows into a panoramic glass roof. The Car has also
been equipped with aerodynamic wheels, a large greenhouse, and a nearly
vertical front fascia.
The minimalist design continues in the cabin
as the model is largely devoid of physical switchgear. Instead, there’s a
freestanding infotainment system that handles most of the vehicle’s functions
and has been envisioned to show ride-hailing specific information.
While the interior looks pretty basic,
Arrival said the model offers twice the legroom as a similarly sized car and
actually has more legroom than a Rolls Royce. Speaking of space, the front
passenger seat can be folded down and moved forward, so it partially fits
underneath the dash, to maximize rear seat legroom.
The Car was designed to prioritize “cost,
uptime, driver comfort, safety, and convenience.” This is important as the
company noted the average ride-hailing vehicle travels around 45,000-50,000 km annually.
