Reconfiguring the Interior of a Tesla Model 3 for Autonomous Driving Purposes

The highly likely spread of autonomous vehicles has transformed the landscape of road travel, ushering in new opportunities and challenges in vehicle interior design. By removing the need for direct driver intervention, a wide array of Non-Driving-Related Activities (NDRAs) has become possible. These activities encompass working, studying, relaxing, and socializing during the ride, elevating the car from a mere instrument of transportation to an extension of our daily living space. In this context, this study aims to propose a new design for the Tesla Model 3, envisioning its evolution to SAE Level 5 autonomy, which denotes full autonomous driving capability under any conditions and in any location. We have selected the Tesla Model 3 for examination due to its compact size, posing a significant challenge for interiors’ optimization. Starting with a critical review to identify the most pertinent activities for occupants, this study focuses on creating two virtual prototypes of the autonomous Tesla Model 3—one with 4 seats and another with 2 seats—to assess their spaciousness. 3D interiors model was created by CATIA V5 software, and the ergonomic evaluation was conducted using the Ergonomics Design & Analysis module, employing mannequins representing a 50 percentile French male and adopting REBA method for the virtual ergonomic assessment. The research question guiding this investigation is: “What should be the interior configuration of an autonomous vehicle to facilitate the execution of primary NDRAs?”.