Hino Motors and REE Automotive, an innovator in e-mobility were awarded top winners in the European Product Design Award in the 'Design for Society' category.
Top Design for Society
Hino and REE signed a business alliance agreement and are working together to realise their shared vision of providing new value to society through next-generation commercial mobility. The European Product Design award was awarded to Hino and REE based on the value of the next-generation commercial mobility solution to be jointly developed by the companies.
The next-generation commercial mobility solution will be comprised of a modular EV platform 'Powered by REE' that will carry a customised Mobility Service Module on top that can carry passengers, goods, and deliver services. The specialised EV chassis that will be jointly developed by Hino and REE will leverage proprietary REE corner technology, which packs critical vehicle components into a single system positioned between the wheel and the chassis. The solution will have a low-floor, fully-flat design that flexibly meets diverse customers' needs and supports autonomous driving.
The Mobility Service Module can be easily detached from the EV platform and once detached can serve as an independent, stand-alone unit, making services and goods easily accessible to society, leaving the platform to be operated separately and continue on its next mission. By utilising mobility-driven data, this will not only be applied toward Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and delivery segments but this modular design could also offer solutions for completely new applications.
Hino's and REE's next-generation electric commercial mobility solutions will be geared to improve quality of life on a global scale by lowering carbon emissions, minimizing strain on infrastructure, reducing congestion and allowing companies to allocate resources better. Hardware prototypes of the solution are expected by FY 2022 and the two companies will work in parallel on evaluating business models, engaging potential customers and conducting demonstrations.
