Honda debuted its compact electric vehicle concept for the second time at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and it is described as "a Japanese plush toy made real." The two-door "pugnacious" model boasts a relatively simple design that is not overbearing and can fit as many as four people. The compact electric vehicle embodies contemporary technology and a futuristic exterior with stylistic retro hits, however the interior is more "like a 1970s living room on wheels." The doors, which are rear-hinged, offer a nice variation of traditional car design.
The auto manufacturer announced that once the Urban EV is in its production stages, the car will feature an installed "digital voice-activated assistant [...] that will learn from the driver by detecting emotions behind their judgments."
Photo Credits: Vlad Savov
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Compact Electric Vehicles
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop more compact electric vehicles with simple designs that appeal to urban consumers and can fit more people.
- Futuristic Exteriors
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design electric vehicles with stylistic retro hits and futuristic exteriors to attract consumers who value unique aesthetics.
- Digital Voice-activated Assistants
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate digital voice-activated assistants in electric vehicles that can detect emotions and learn from the driver's judgments.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Automotive
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce compact electric vehicles and develop futuristic exteriors for the automotive industry.
- Urban Transportation
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create compact electric vehicles that can fit multiple passengers to address the needs of urban transportation.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Utilize artificial intelligence technology to develop digital voice-activated assistants that enhance the driving experience.
