The Urban Collëctif

Citroën, Accor and JCDecaux join forces to present their shared vision for the future of urban mobility.

Transport plays an essential role in daily life yet is often criticised for being unfit for purpose, with services that are inefficient, over-crowded and over-priced. Some cities, particularly those with a rapidly-growing population, are in need of a complete overhaul to make way for cleaner, safer, more flexible modes of travel that better serve commuters. Enter The Urban Collëctif, a new partnership between Citroën, Accor and JCDecaux – three French companies with an international presence in the daily lives of city-dwellers – who have presented their shared vision for the future of urban mobility.

Driven by the belief that future mobility must address both safety and wellbeing, The Urban Collëctif has created a revolutionary mobility concept, drawing on its 200 years of combined experience in innovation. Using an open-source model dubbed Citroën Autonomous Mobility Vision, the concept is based on an electric platform known as The Citroën Skate, and a range of pods that serve a variety of needs.

The driverless skates are designed to travel in dedicated lanes within the existing infrastructure, moving non-stop around the city and picking up a pod on request. The pods, each offering a unique experience, have been designed by Accor and JCDecaux in line with their brand philosophy. The JCDecaux pod builds on the success of its functional street furniture while Accor looks to Sofitel and Pullman, two of its hotel brands for inspiration. For Sébastien Bazin, Accor’s Chairman and CEO, the project is an opportunity to develop in new ways: “With nearly 5,200 hotels worldwide, our group is active in the local ecosystem and committed to offering ever more exclusive experiences, both to travellers and local communities, while contributing to the development of sustainable cities,” he notes. “Extending the hotel experience outside the walls of our establishments is in line with our bold and modern vision of hospitality.”

Damien Perrot, Global Senior Vice President Design at Accor, adds: “Each pod is a bold and modern interpretation of interior and automotive design. They are designed beyond the conventions and standards that the industry is using today, with precision engineering, high-end materials, refined aesthetics and revamped functions and applications. Thanks to this unprecedented partnership, which is highly innovative both in form and substance, we are creating endless opportunities for the future.”

With the open-source approach, any third-party can develop a pod compatible with the technical specifications of The Citroën Skate, a move that will bring new opportunities and, if successful, significantly improve the quality of life for commuters. “At Citroën, we examine medium and longterm trends to anticipate consumer expectations and needs,” concludes Vincent Cobée, Citroën General Manager. “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.”

See overleaf for details on the design of the pods.

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The Pods

1. SOFITEL EN VOYAGE The first pod from Accor is an architectural parallelepiped of glass and marquetry, creating an intimate atmosphere while being fully open to the outdoors. The organic look of the marquetry – a traditional French skill – is updated thanks to cutting-edge technologies and high-precision laser cutting, creating bodywork that evokes French furniture and haute couture. Entered via glazed doors that slide open automatically, the pod has capacity for up to three passengers on the curved seating, which is upholstered in a bold shade of velvet. A bar for drinks and snacks takes care of the hospitality offer, while technology services include a sound system, induction chargers and configurable mood lighting. There’s also a scrolling LED strip displaying information in real time – such as personal messages and arrival details – and, as proof of the Accor service, a touchscreen tablet connects directly to a Sofitel concierge to arrange a restaurant or theatre reservation for example. 2. JCDECAUX CITY PROVIDER From the world leader in outdoor advertising systems, the JCDecaux City Provider offers an innovative ondemand urban transport solution that is accessible to all. Easy to board by wheelchair users and passengers with luggage or a pushchair, the pod relies on smart autonomous technology to optimise time and distance between destinations while ensuring a pleasant and peaceful experience. Inspired by JCDecaux’s digital street furniture, this model has a timeless and functional aesthetic, characterised by tones of textured black and satin aluminium grey. Accommodating up to five people, the pod features two facing spaces beneath a green planted roof – an open area protected from the weather by an awning, and a glazed area with mood lighting. Two interactive screens enhance the experience, displaying services for planning and tracking journeys, as well as information on cultural and entertainment attractions, which the pod can travel to on request.

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3. PULLMAN POWER FITNESS Also from Accor, Pullman Power Fitness reflects the hotel brand’s vision for boundary-pushing fitness. In line with its training programme – in which guests are challenged to take their performance to the next level – this pod is designed to make better use of the lengthy commute through the provision of exercise facilities. Characterised by a glass bubble incorporating dichroic patterns that echo Pullman’s graphic and colour conventions, the pod houses a rowing machine and exercise bike, enabling a sole user to enhance their fitness levels on-the-go. The deliberately futuristic concept illustrates the symbiosis between sport, music and light, with a customisable audio and lighting system offering three adjustable modes according to the type of exercise. And true to Pullman’s hyperconnected spirit, a digital instructor appearing on a holographic screen coaches the user, all while providing route information and entertainment for a next-level cardio session. THE CITROËN SKATE Autonomous, electric and chargeable via induction, The Citroën Skate (previous page) serves as a universal platform that enables the pods to move around the city. Positioned below the pod, it generates movement to activate the service, and travels to the desired destination at speeds of up to 25 km/h. The Citroën Skate is compact in size yet incorporates all the intelligence and technology required for autonomous travel; special sensors ensure safe driving through the detection of nearby pedestrians, cars and cyclists, while movable hydraulic cushions buffer bumps in the road surface. The wheels, which are revolutionary in their concept and design, were devised and developed by Goodyear and allow for complete 360° freedom of movement so that the pod can travel in any direction. Thanks to The Citroën Skate technology and its open-source approach, the concept opens up new possibilities for the future of urban mobility.