SEATTLE: The Volvo Cars-Microsoft partnership has yielded results with both companies revealing Microsoft HoloLens, the world’s first fully untethered holographic computer that could be used to redefine how customers first encounter and explore a car, as well as how cars might be bought and sold in future.
With HoloLens, a powerful, wearable computer, holograms are mixed into the physical world.
“HoloLens offers the freedom to create a bespoke experience which customers can steer themselves. Imagine using mixed reality to choose the type of car you want – to explore the colours, rims, or get a better understanding of the features, services and options available,” said Volvo Cars senior vice president for marketing, sales and service Björn Annwall.
He added HoloLens technology might also liberate dealers from more traditional sales environments and allow them to take a car configurator out on the road in small Pop-Up stores, shopping malls or on the high street, opening up new sales channels and introducing cars to a far larger potential audience.
At the HoloLens demonstration on Friday, participating journalists were also given a mixed reality preview of Volvo’s new S90 premium sedan, which will be unveiled in reality at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
Volvo is working with Microsoft to jointly develop next-generation automotive technologies.
