Mercedes-Benz Vans is pitching its Vision Urbanetic as the future of human-machine interaction and part of a holistic ecosystem. Shown for the first time in the U.S. at CES 2019 after its debut at the ITS 2018 World Congress in Copenhagen last Fall, the switchable-body concept focuses on needs-based, efficient, comfortable, and sustainable mobility is motivated by battery-electric drive and rides on an autonomous driving platform with people-mover module for passenger transport or cargo module for freight transport.

With the concept, the company aimed to eliminate the separation between people moving and goods transport, looking to satisfy the needs of cities, diverse business sectors, and city dwellers and travelers—reducing traffic congestion, relieving inner-city infrastructure burdens, and contributing to an improved quality of urban life.