Car Maker NIO Unveils Autonomous, Driver-Less Future At SXSW In Austin

AUSTIN, TX — Sometimes at SXSW, one comes across an exhibition that yields a glimpse into the future. Such was the case this weekend.

At the Coppertank Event Center, 504 Trinity St., officials at NIO, a next-generation car company, provided such a glimpse. Inside the building, the car company had two of its cars on display: The NIO EP9 and EVE.

But these are no ordinary cars, if you can call them cars at all. The parlance tends to bend in describing these things, company officials settling for "autonomous electric cars" in the corporate literature in one reference and a "robot on wheels" in another.

These are driver-less, electric vehicles. The company chose SXSW in Austin as the venue of its North American launch in introducing the vehicles to the public, which are expected to hit the market in 2020.

"We're excited about having autonomous electric cars for U.S. consumers in 2020," U.S. CEO Padmasree Warrior said. "Today, we also unveiled our vision for the car of the future, focused on delivering unmateched user experience through leading-edge, software-defined hardware."

Mind-boggling technology aside, the purpose of these vehicles is also to bring back the fun to transportation and make the mundane commute an enjoyable experience, according to company officials.

"In 2015, commuters in the U.S. spent over 8 billion hours in their cars commuting," Warrier noted in a statement. NIO's autonomous electric cars will make your journey safe, productive and enjoyable."

Then, in describing the responsive nature of these cutting-edge vehicles, the CEO inadvertently gets into 2001: A Space Odyssey territory that can be seen as either exciting or vaguely creepy depending on your outlook and the expanse of your embrace for new, artificial intelligence-fueled technology.

"Our cars will be your companion and will know your needs," the CEO said. "They will be a welcoming living space that moves you. We look forward to producing the first of the next generation of cars for the U.S. consumer. We know you will be delighted by NIO."

Oh, and they're pretty too. On site were two versions of the car, a bright blue sports car and what can only be described as a living room on wheels or a 21st century station wagon. The NIO EVE is guided by its "heart," which is an artificial intelligence engine. This is when some of us of a certain age start getting a little queasy, while maybe the younger set finds endlessly exciting.

"From daily commuting to road trips to school runs to nights out, EVE constantly learns about is occupants and their preferences," reads the company literature. "It is a digital companion, a robot on wheels. At EVE's heart lies NOMI, an artificial intelligence engine with an intuitive human interface, providing verbal and visual connections both within the vehicle and with the outside world."

The sports model, the NIO EP9, has broken major lap records, company officials noted. In November, the company unveiled its electric supercar, which achieved a new lap record at the Nürburgring, a 150,000-capacity motor sports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Other milestones have been achieved before and since.

The car is designed to be charged in 45 minutes with a range of 265 miles.

These vehicles of the future are on display until Sunday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Saturday afternoon, IDs were being checked to gain entry as complimentary adult beverages were being sold, so it's advisable to go earlier in the day if you bring along the kiddos to ensure their entry.

But even sans children, you'll likely be agape with child-like awe at these amazing cars of the future. The sticker price on each model wasn't mentioned, but we're guessing these cars are a tad on the pricey side.

>>> Photos by Tony Cantú