---
title: "Volvo Unveils Autonomous Car Design, Set to Hit the Roads by 2017"
description: "Volvo also says it will be liable for any accidents its cars cause..."
date: "2015-11-21"
modified: "2015-11-22"
authors:
  - name: "Jun Añover"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jun_anoveryahoo-com"
url: "https://futurism.com/volvo-unveils-autonomous-car-design-set-to-hit-the-roads-by-2017"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Self-Driving Vehicles"
tags:
  - "autonomous concept car"
  - "volvo"
---

# Volvo Unveils Autonomous Car Design, Set to Hit the Roads by 2017

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Volvo-Concept-26.jpg>)
*Concept 26 \<em\>Image: \<a href="http://cdn4.uvnimg.com/70/4c/d8e6bac44876856ab344bda36ef7/169591_Concept_26.jpg" target="\_blank"\>Volvo\</a\>\</em\>*

##### CONCEPT 26

Volvo just released photos and details of the Concept 26, a self-driving sedan that will litter the roads of Gothenburg, Sweden in 2017. About 100 of the cars will take part in Volvo's ambitious project, which will be the first on-road, mass trial of an autonomous vehicle.

The company's concept vehicle is named to reflect the average daily commute to work of 26 minutes. It features a new bucket-style seat design that actively cradles the driver during the transformation phase into one of the three modes: Drive, Create, or Relax. With the Concept 26, when a driver engages full autonomous mode, the steering wheel retracts and the seat reclines. A large screen display also emerges from the dashboard allowing the driver to ignore the road and do other tasks.

##### TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY

Volvo is the first to tackle head-on the controversial issue of liability, which arose in the midst of numerous car manufacturers now bent on coming out with their self-driving vehicles. The question is, who will be responsible when an autonomous vehicle causes an accident?

Peter Mertens, senior vice president of R&D at Volvo says: "Volvo Cars is among the first to address the subject of self-driving cars and liability. We firmly believe that car makers should take full responsibility for the actions of the car when it is driving in full autonomous mode." He adds: "If a manufacturer does not accept liability, it clearly implies that they are not confident about their autonomous drive technology."

See some images of the design below.

[![A look inside Volvo's Concept 26, a prototype for its self-driving vehicle. Credit: Volvo](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/volvo.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/volvo.jpg>)
*A look inside Volvo's Concept 26, a prototype for its self-driving vehicle. Credit: Volvo*

[![A sideview of the Volvo Concept 26 while in "Relax Mode". Credit: Volvo](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/volvo-2.png>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/volvo-2.png>)
*A sideview of the Volvo Concept 26 while in "Relax Mode". Credit: Volvo*