Accor has joined forces with car manufacturer Citroen and outdoor media company JCDecaux to unveil the Urban Collectif.
The Urban Collectif aims to advance the development of autonomous mobility in cities through electric pods that can be used for different transport needs.
The Sofitel En Voyage pod, which carries two to three people, could be used for transfers, shopping trips or a city experience while the Pullman Power Fitness enables users to exercise while commuting.
A third pod, a collaboration with JCDecaux called the City Provider, is designed to be an on-demand, accessible pod that carries up to six people.
The idea is for all of the autonomous vehicles to drive on dedicated lanes.
Sebastien Bazin, CEO of Accor, says the partnership is about keeping customers "within our arms and giving you something you have never experienced before."
According to Vincent Cobbe,CEO of Citroen, the Urban Collectif initiative could become reality in the next five to seven years but needs transport authorities, operators and manufacturers to get involved as well as "experience" partners for the pods themselves.
He adds the autonomous technology will be ready by then but it will take a lot of players coming together to create an ecosystem around urban autonomous mobility.
"We're at the beginning of the discussion. We think the idea has a lot of traction but how to get to the physical operation involves four actors."
Cobbe also says that the existing partners' common goals are to improve life in cities and give time back to customers that would be spent commuting or stuck in traffic.
Patrick Mendes, group chief commercial officer for Accor, says: "We are marrying technology, innovation, sustainability and experience. We want to give you an experience before you stay and after you stay. The future of hospitality for us is what we call augmented hospitality."
The Urban Collectif - Citroen x Sofitel En Voyage