New Citroen Skate is autonomous platform with swappable pods

Skate, a new platform concept, is Citroën’s vision for the future of autonomous shared mobility in cities and forms part of a revolutionary “open-source” model that the firm says could improve traffic fluidity by 35%. 

The platform, equipped with level-five autonomous capabilities to move around urban areas with no human input, can operate “almost continuously” 24/7, charging itself at dedicated hubs. 

It has a maximum speed of 3mph or 16mph, depending on its surroundings, and is equipped with Citroën’s Advanced Comfort hydraulic cushion suspension set-up for optimum ride quality. Bespoke motorised spherical wheels designed by Goodyear allow for 360deg manoeuvrability, “just like a computer mouse”. 

The Skate has been designed to accommodate interchangeable travel ‘pods’ from a variety of providers that offer different takes on the concept of ride sharing. Citroën says the pods can be swapped in just 10 seconds. 

Early design concepts have been shown by hospitality giant Accor and advertising company JCDecaux, as part of a new partnership between the three companies dubbed ‘The Urban Collëctif’. By separating the pods from the platform on which they travel, Citroën claims it can “maximise the use of autonomous technology while expanding service offerings”. 

Accor’s “spectacular and statuesque” Sofitel en Voyage pod is inspired by the eponymous hotel chain, featuring sleek wooden surfaces, a dedicated luggage compartment, a bar, mood lighting and a touchscreen. The Pullman Power Fitness pod is essentially a mobile exercise room comprising a rowing machine, an exercise bike and a digital coach that’s displayed on a holographic screen.

 JCDecaux, meanwhile, has focused on the “on-demand” aspect of mobility services with its City Provider pod. Said to be “accessible to all users”, this “functional” pod offers the quickest routes through the city and comes equipped with USB chargers and interactive screens to “enhance the mobility experience”. 

Citroën CEO Vincent Cobée recently highlighted the importance of urban mobility in an automotive landscape that’s transforming rapidly in the wake of the pandemic, and the unveiling of the Skate concept follows the UK market launch of the diminutive Ami two-seater in the French brand’s continued exploration of affordable and sustainable travel solutions.

Cobée said of the Skate concept: “We believe that this new concept can redefine the framework of urban mobility: shared, electric and autonomous. With the solution we are presenting in partnership with Accor and JCDecaux, we are inventing autonomous mobility for all.”