Nissan focuses on autonomous car interiors
NISSAN is set to beef up its interior design budget so future cars can better compete in an increasingly autonomous world where customers will care more about their cabins than in the past.
The new boss of the brand’s European design centre, Mamoru Aoki, told Auto Express that Nissan’s interiors are set to change dramatically, and soon.
“From 2020 it will be the real autonomous and electric vehicle era, so at that time I think we will not continue the current design direction,” he said.
“Before, EV competition was small, but now it is much greater, so appearance is more important. Tesla is here already, so we have to compete.”
With future customers spending more time not driving they are more likely to notice the quality and detail of their car’s interior. And as autonomous vehicles and EVS do not require so much space for engines, this also provides opportunities to do things differently.
As to what some of this change might look like, Aoki cited the IMX electric compact SUV concept (revealed at October’s Tokyo Motor Show) with its retractable steering wheel controls, a focus on simple shapes and use of high-quality materialsterials that reference Japanese culture.e. Indeed, that concept will leadad to a production model in two years. ars.
“Nissan’s interiors are set to change cha dramatically, and soon”