[CES2020] Mercedes-Benz Unveils Avatar-Inspired Future Concept Car... Toyota Begins Construction of Woven City

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Mercedes-Benz unveiled the future concept car 'Vision AVTR,' inspired by the Hollywood movie Avatar, for the first time in the world at CES 2020. This concept car, born from the collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Hollywood film director James Cameron, showcases Mercedes-Benz's forward-looking technological capabilities enhanced by imagination.

On the 6th (local time), Ola K?llenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Group and Mercedes-Benz, revealed the 'Vision AVTR' concept car during his keynote speech at CES 2020 held in Las Vegas, USA. He introduced it by saying, "The show car 'Vision AVTR' is designed to stimulate our imagination just like we did in science fiction movies."

Mercedes-Benz Future Concept Car 'Vision AVTR'

The Vision AVTR features a design emphasizing a streamlined body combined with bright lighting to give a futuristic feel. The theme of connection between humans and machines is highlighted, and autonomous driving is included as a standard feature. When passengers place their hands on the oval-shaped controller, the vehicle senses their heart rate and vibrates in response. The vehicle materials are made from recyclable substances, and 33 'bionic flaps,' reminiscent of reptile scales, are used to communicate with people outside the vehicle.

This concept car was created to express Mercedes-Benz's mission of close connectivity between humans and technology through collaboration with the production team of the Hollywood movie Avatar. James Cameron, the director and producer of Avatar, also emphasized the importance of human-machine connectivity at the concept car unveiling event and mentioned elements to be applied in his next work.

Toyota Woven City

Another automaker participating in CES 2020, Toyota, unveiled the concept of 'Woven City,' a city connected by mobility. This city will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and serve as a testing ground for various future technologies such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, robotics, and mobility services.

Located near Mount Fuji in Japan, 'Woven City' will cover an area of 175 acres (700,000㎡) and is scheduled to be developed starting in 2021. Approximately 2,000 Toyota employees and their families will actually reside in this city and conduct various future technology experiments.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, said, "Although small in scale, building a future new city from scratch is the only opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for urban infrastructure." He added, "We hope you will join our efforts to create better lives and mobility by leveraging this unique research ecosystem."