From driverless to "steering-wheel less": The best of electric cars is yet to come

Imagine stepping into a car with no wheel, no pedals, and no need to drive at all. Super cool and futuristic, right? Well, this tech is before us already. In Germany, the Volkswagen Group is testing its new car, Gen.Urban1.

This electric car takes the bold step from driverless tech to rides where passengers are fully in charge of nothing but their own comfort. The goal is not speed or power, but to see how real people react when they can truly relax and let the car take over. This could change the way we think about travel forever.

Gen.Urban1 has a smooth, curved design that looks more like a pod than a car. Each roof edge holds a sensor to scan the road. It comes with side cameras, which replace the old mirrors. This helps the car read traffic with care. The ride feels calm and open, made to help riders trust the car and the system that runs it.

The test is built around people, not tech. Riders are asked how they use time while the car is moving. Some read, some chat, and some just watch the road. The team also tracks how age groups use the car tools. This helps shape future cars for many needs, not just one type of user.

Before the ride, users can set the air temperature and soft light. Once inside, a smart assistant lets them tune the front screen, light tone, and sound mood. These small choices help riders feel at ease. The aim is to turn travel time into rest time, not task time.

A trained safety rider sits in the car with a small stick panel. This lets a human take charge at once if needed. This backup adds trust and helps users feel safe during early tests.

The test path runs about ten km through Wolfsburg. It includes lights, circles, and road work zones. Each ride lasts about twenty minutes. These paths show how the car deals with real city stress.

The move to steering-wheel-less cars shows that electric car growth is far from done. Power and range matter, but user trust and comfort may matter more. The best part of electric cars may not be how they move, but how they let people rest while they move.