While this is just an unofficial Audi-themed rendering, we could easily see this semi hauling cargo well into the late 21st century.
Unlike passenger cars, semi trucks have developed at a much slower rate, which is why most of the ones you see on the motorways today aren’t fundamentally different from the ones that came out a couple of decades ago.
For example, a Peterbilt tractor head from the mid-1970s is still very similar to a mid-2010s model, and while the Tesla semi looks to bring a more streamlined cabin to the mix (not to mention new technologies), it’s still firmly grounded in early 21st century.
This Audi HMV Concept, on the other hand, is a whole different story. It’s what Optimum Prime should have looked like if he had any imagination, or if the character wasn’t based on a 1980s’ cartoon/toy line.
It was drawn up by designer Jeremy Dodd and features many sleek design elements that would normally belong way into the future. With the trailer attached, there are a total of five lighting units, three on the trailer and two on the semi, the latter nicely embedded into the rearwards part of the wheel arches.
If we had to guess, we’d say that such a truck would easily be powered by electric motors and be fully autonomous. We wouldn’t go as far as to say it will do away with a human behind the wheel, because then there will be no reason to build an actual driver cab or tractor head for that matter, as the trailer would pretty much drive itself.
