Volvo isn’t showing any cars at a car show

Motor shows. Traditionally full of… motors. This year’s Los Angeles Motor Show is no different, except perhaps for Volvo, who aren’t showing any motors at all.

Instead, the Swedish carmaker will show off a range of connectivity services, autonomous driving – as shown off in the Volvo 360c concept, above – and car sharing demonstrations. Yep, welcome to The Future.

“By calling the trade show Automobility LA, the organisers have recognised the disruption affecting our industry,” explains Volvo’s product strategy boss Mårten Levenstam. “Instead of bringing a concept car, we talk about the concept of a car. We will not win the ‘car of the show’ award this year, but we are comfortable with that.

“Because this is not a car show,” he added.

Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson noted how the car industry was changing from simply building and selling cars (though this is still the traditional business model) to providing ‘drivers’ the ability to move “in a personal, sustainable and safe way”.

Along with the aforementioned demonstrations, Volvo will also show things like in-car delivery and the car access service ‘Care by Volvo’.

A savvy move, considering just how quickly the car world is changing, sure. But Volvo know how to knock up a solid concept. Like that gorgeous SPA Coupe concept…