Yanfeng Launches European Stress-Free BEV Interior

Chinese automaker Yanfeng unveils a concept interior for its European-facing battery-electric vehicles with the focus on stress relief for the consumer.

With descriptions of the cabin designed to create the “notion of freedom, so that the cockpit area offers plenty of space for the body and relief for the mind,” it’s clear Yanfeng is trying to offset consumer anxiety over vehicle range.

The company’s chief technology officer, Patrik Nebout, says it was a design priority to make the interior distinctly different from those in the cabins of internal-combustion-engine vehicles.

His team of designers eliminated the traditional instrument panel and integrated all key functions into a Smart Cabin seat module. These include “intelligent surfaces” for operating and controlling the vehicle, an active headrest with audio functions, advanced safety systems, seat-integrated climate control and practical storage and charging options.

The Smart Cabin seat module combines the two front seats with an integrated floor console, a steer-by-wire input system, HMI, displays, seatbelts and airbags, as well as a comfort microclimate air conditioning system. The steer-by-wire system has an integrated display that can be stowed away for interactions during autonomous driving and can be moved to a steering position for driving functions depending on the desired driving mode. With the HMI display interface fully embedded in the deployable steer-by-wire arm, the large display panel in the front of the cabin requires no touch interaction.

The company also says its interior makes installation easy for other automakers as Yanfeng promotes its capabilities as a Tier 1 auto supplier.

Nebout says: “Comprehensive studies carried out by our Yanfeng research team have shown that users want more technology but most importantly, technology that is intuitive to use in order to create a fun and enjoyable experience. They also want space that is significantly different from that in vehicles with combustion engines.

“In addition to the improved user experience, the EVI also offers benefits for automakers. The integration of all important components in the Smart Cabin seat module simplifies and speeds up the assembly process while also reducing costs.”