---
title: "The Autonomous Smart Vision EQ Fortwo Might Make Ride-Sharing Sites Obsolete"
description: "Can Mercedes dethrone Uber and Lyft with its Smart Car?"
date: "2017-09-01"
modified: "2017-09-01"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Constantine"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-constantine"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/14003/the-autonomous-smart-vision-eq-fortwo-might-make-ride-sharing-sites-obsolete"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Autonomous Cars"
  - "compact"
  - "Concept Cars"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
  - "ride sharing"
  - "Smart Fortwo"
---

# The Autonomous Smart Vision EQ Fortwo Might Make Ride-Sharing Sites Obsolete

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/08/smart-vision-eq-fortwo.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

As [traffic continues to become the most hated thing](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/7787/los-angeles-has-the-worst-traffic-on-earth>) on the planet, more people are ditching their personal vehicles and flocking to ride sharing services like Lyft and [Uber](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/13775/uber-continues-to-grow-despite-scandals>) for their commutes. But the [car manufacturers are fighting back](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/13565/gms-maven-hints-at-plans-to-challenge-lyft-uber-in-ride-sharing>) with their own services. Mercedes-Benz's weapon against Uber isn't a program, but a version of the [Smart Fortwo](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/1877/driving-the-new-smart-fortwo-cabrio-is-a-lifestyle-choice>) that combines ride sharing, car sharing, electric commuting, and autonomous driving in one futuristic, buzz-wordy package. With [Uber's autonomous division](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/6654/no-more-autonomous-ubers-in-cali>) dead in California, Benz might come out on top in the War of the Ride-sharers.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the [Smart Vision EQ Fortwo](<https://media.mbusa.com/releases/autonomous-concept-car-smart-vision-eq-fortwo?firstResultIndex=0&sortOrder=PublishedDescending>) on Wednesday, a concept car that plans to usher in a new era of "public" transportation. The futuristic two-seater is characterized by its LED lights and grille that replace all outside lights, as well as special side windows that display all kinds of information like a [head-up display](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/12441/the-nuviz-motorcycle-hud-could-change-the-way-you-ride>). The doors make getting out and avoiding pedestrians/cyclists easier by rotating up and over the back wheels.

The interior is even more revolutionary, forgoing pedals and a steering wheel in favor of control via smartphone and voice commands. Instead of a dashboard, the Fortwo features a customizable 24-inch touchscreen.

The Smart Vision EQ Fortwo is the embodiment of Mercedes' new CASE vision, adhering to the 4 pillars of Connectivity, Autonomous, Shared & Services, and Electric.

The concept stays *connected* via a smartphone app that users can call for a car with, as well as customize their vehicle's interior (lights and displays) with a unique profile in the application.

The car features fully *autonomous* driving; it will find its owner's location when he/she requests it and pick the person up, then drive said person to his/her destination like a robotic Uber driver.

Its *shared*

 *services* component builds upon car sharing programs like [Zipcar](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/598/the-12-best-zipcar-models-in-the-nation-ranked>) to allow users to "drive" their Fortwos around and leave them in designated drop-off locations when they're done.

The EQ Fortwo stays *electric*, powered by a 30-kWh battery; unused cars will automatically drive to a charging station for refueling.

![message-editor%2F1504216380618-17c649\_009-1200x800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216380618-17c649_009-1200x800.jpg>)
*Mercedes-Benz USA*

![message-editor%2F1504216404352-17c649\_055-1200x800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216404352-17c649_055-1200x800.jpg>)
*Mercedez-Benz USA*

![message-editor%2F1504216426237-17c649\_024-1200x800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216426237-17c649_024-1200x800.jpg>)
*Mercedez-Benz USA*

![message-editor%2F1504216438879-17c649\_069-1200x800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216438879-17c649_069-1200x800.jpg>)
*Mercedez-Benz USA*

![message-editor%2F1504216462800-17c649\_080-1200x800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216462800-17c649_080-1200x800.jpg>)
*Mercedez-Benz USA*

![message-editor%2F1504216478620-17c649\_105-1200x800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216478620-17c649_105-1200x800.jpg>)
*Mercedez-Benz USA*

![message-editor%2F1504216492632-17c649\_065-1200x800.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216492632-17c649_065-1200x800.jpg>)
*Mercedez-Benz USA*

![message-editor%2F1504216506148-17c554\_12-1200x778.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1504216506148-17c554_12-1200x778.jpg>)
*Mercedez-Benz USA*

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