Volvo owner Geely launched a new car brand called Lynk & Co. The first car by this new brand is called the 01, and it totally re-imagines what a car should be. The car company is not centered around getting users to buy cars.
Instead, there are various payment models. You can subscribe to a car, and the company takes care of the insurance, service and maintenance for a monthly fee. You can hire a car, or rent yours out when not in use. You can lease a car or even just buy the car, if you really want to.
The technology for implementing these features have been available for some time. However, Lynk & Co is the first company to go ahead and implement it in a car. The intent is to break the expensive cycle of
buying a car, using it for a few years, and then selling it off. In a world with limited resources, the optimum usage of available resources is to share instead of own, and this car is made specifically for the sharing economy.
Every car has an integrated Wi-Fi connection, that is paid for as part of the monthly fee. There is a digital key that can transfer temporarily to other drivers who may want to use your car when you are not using it. The key returns to you after the ride is done. Users can also get digital keys in their smartphones, when travelling. This allows consumers to use cars in foreign locations. Users can also rent out their cars while they are working, setting a time in an app for when they want the car to be returned. If someone rents out a car you own while you are away, you get notified about the ride distances, once the usage is over.
The compact SUV is available as a hybrid or a fully electric vehicle. Ericsson provides telemetry from the engines. There is a ten inch touchscreen on the dashboard, and the car can take voice commands. The car packs in safety features in as well, including adaptive cruise control, blind side detection and automatic brakes for emergencies. There is support for wireless charging, semi-automatic parking, lights for day use and the car automatically shuts down the vents if too much pollution is detected.
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The 01 is also an open platform. The designer of the fuel tank was really into biking and his experience showed the team that there was more to urban mobility than just driving. At times you may need a car, but a bike can be useful for navigating some areas as well. Which is why, the Lynk and Co team is designing a bike to put in the car. They are looking for more collaborators with the co lab. The systems, sensors and software used in the car are all open. Interested parties can help develop the car and take it in new directions.