About GEKKO

Gekko is an autonomous carsharing ecosystem. The vehicle matches the user’s taste and responds to his or her needs. With its barrier-free universal design approach, everyone can use it, regardless of age, size, intended use, or disabilities.

Continuing urbanization in fast-growing metropolitan areas causes problems in traffic and infrastructure. More and more people want to get to their destination faster, without giving up individuality and or privacy. Carsharing is one solution. But do those vehicles always fulfill users’ needs? How can we design traveling time to be more efficient? And how can disabled people use carsharing as well?

Gekko is a concept designed for a future when fully autonomous cars have been established. The primary technology is the interior wall guide rail, which is adaptable to users’ needs. The seats, luggage compartment, and tables can be positioned on the rail. The seat is divided into parts that can be moved separately to adjust for height and size. These parts can also be hidden completely behind the luggage compartment or can enclose it. One part of the seat can be turned and used as a footrest. This concept would borrow technology from stair lift production.

The guide rail can also be used as an ambient light source to match the user’s taste. Another innovation is the use of e-ink fabric that can change its color by polarizing tiny pigments within the translucent tube thread.
At the time of finalization there was no concept of a fully autonomous car that can be so tailored to fit user needs. Almost all existing vehicles used for carsharing are standard production vehicles. Gekko is a car that would not stigmatize users who are disabled, elderly, or of different heights or sizes.