Aehra has released images and details of the interior of its first vehicle, an SUV. It plans to start deliveries in late 2025.
The SUV has short overhangs, a three-meter wheelbase, and a completely flat floor that provides a similar environment for drivers and passengers alike, the company said.
The SUV has a full-dashboard-width HMI (Human Machine Interface) screen, which delivers a true step-change in entertainment and in-vehicle working. When the SUV is in drive mode, the screen sits in a lower position, to display all the information the driver requires, such as speed, range, heating and ventilation settings and navigational instructions. The two outer areas of the screen serve as virtual exterior mirrors, relaying high-definition images from two front exterior side cameras. When the vehicle is parked, occupants can choose to extend the screen upwards.
“With the screen fully extended, the occupants can relax and enjoy a movie, perhaps when the car is charging or when a parent is waiting to pick up a child from school or a party. And for those who have work to do, the screen and the spacious interior afford the perfect solution for video conference calls,” said Aehra Chief Design Officer Fillippo Perini.
A secondary, smaller oblong-shaped touchscreen is mounted in the centre of the dashboard. This enables both front-seat occupants to effortlessly control many of the vehicle’s functions such as navigation, heating and ventilation and entertainment.
The SUV is equipped with an oblong-shaped yoke-like steering wheel, complete with a small digital strip inserted into the upper section of the steering wheel that provides the driver with further key information.
“A lot of what we have learnt from the aeronautic industry has shaped the Aehra SUV’s body styling and its class-leading aerodynamic efficiency, and that influence very much extends inside the cabin too,” Co-Founder and CEO Hazim Nada explained. “The exterior monobody architecture enables us to create a unique dashboard that positions the HMI screen in such a way that a traditional layout does not allow.”
The Italian-American company has been substantially self-funded so far, and is finalizing its first external investors round, the company said. The brand unveiled its elegant SUV in November 2022, and will follow with a Sedan in April 2023. Deliveries are expected to start in late 2025. A strategic model roll out is planned for key markets, including North America, Europe, China, and the Gulf States.