CES 2020: Daimler steals the show with Avatar-inspired concept car
Daimler AG Chief Executive Officer Ola Kallenius paused an ambitious cost-cutting campaign long enough on Monday to unveil a futuristic concept vehicle inspired by one of the most expensive Hollywood blockbusters ever made. The Mercedes-Benz AVTR , named after the environmentally-conscious sci-fi film Avatar, is designed to showcase a melding of human and machine interaction for a mode of transport “in the very distant future,” according to the German carmaker. Oscar-winning director James Cameron joined Kallenius on stage at MGM Park Theater to debut the vehicle during the Consumer Electronics Show, now called CES, in Las Vegas. The electric-powered car features a fully recyclable battery, lateral crab-like movement and no steering wheel. Instead, a biometric control function “allows human and machine to merge” as the car monitors the driver’s breathing patterns, the firm said. The Tinseltown glamour at one of the world’s biggest gatherings of tech aficionados marked a jarri