Renault's styling boss on designing for an autonomous future

Laurens van den Acker: "We are just at the start of this adventure."

As head of corporate design at Renault, Laurens van den Acker is the executive overseeing the styling of future driverless cars. In an interview with Automotive News Europe he explained the challenges facing the automaker in designing vehicles such as the EZ-GO robotaxi concept.

Why did you create the EZ-GO robotaxi concept?

This is an elegant form of mobility services. At first, it was a difficult to motivate our designers to work on a project like this because the concept doesn't have a steering wheel, it doesn't have a seat, it doesn't go "vroom vroom." However, it's unusual when you can really start with a blank sheet of paper – where there are no rules, there is no heritage.

What were the design challenges?

You have a completely new set of demands, especially when you take out the traditional configuration in the car. This allowed us to find a solution where we have one front-opening door, which gives easy access. It also led to the seating's U-shaped configuration. Getting in and out of a robovehicle is very important. You don't want to get out on the street side, because there could be a car driving by. The front entry has also created space for a wheelchair or somebody who has difficulty getting around. The fact that you can just walk in is a more dignified way of entering and exiting.

What makes the EZ-GO a Renault?

Most robotaxis I have seen so far have been boxes on wheels, closely related to public transportation, with sliding doors like an elevator or a bus or metro. We wanted a human-centric approach, so we kept the profile relatively low and the vehicle very transparent. Once you're inside, you're protected. It's quite cozy, more like a community. You travel differently. The car becomes your window to the city. This is very Renault, because we are a family-oriented company.

What kind of information will riders need inside the car?

There’s a screen that shows you the destinations of the people who are traveling. But we didn't put screens everywhere. We found out from talking to companies in the business that most trips are generally quite short, 10 to 15 minutes. People get in, look at their smartphones, then get out. There's no need to watch a movie. We might have some information about the city itself, but it will be relatively limited.

How is designing a robovehicle different when compared with designing a passenger car for private ownership?

With a personal car, we design for you, for your neighbors, for your friends. We have to touch the heart of a large group of people who are investing their own money into an object. Whereas for a service, you are designing for a city or for a company. It becomes an object that in my view becomes a symbol of a city. We say the EZ-GO could be the black cab of London or the yellow cab of New York City. If Paris wants to show what it stands for, wouldn't you want it to be something modern, efficient, elegant and comfortable?

How important is it to have a smartphone app that's easy to use and lets you find stations easily?

It’s crucial. When we dive into mobility services, the ones that work the best are the ones that give you the speediest transport for the lowest price. We think there will be a large category of mobility providers who will want to do just that. Fast, cheap, quick. But there will also be people who want to travel in style, who want to be a little more comfortable. This year, we will have a series of concept cars to show the diversity of mobility services.

What are the possibilities for shared, urban mobility?

Nobody knows what the best configuration will be. Is it a vehicle for two people or for 20? Is it premium or basic? We are all just trying out ideas. My first goal with the EZ-GO was, can we entice people to take a robovehicle and not step into a car? Can we make something so attractive and desirable that you would rather take it than the subway? If there is a robovehicle from Audi, from Ford or from Renault, would you get into ours? We are just at the start of this adventure.