VW imagines mobile office in the back of a van
Volkswagen designs two Transporter van-based office spaces to promote new survey into UK small businesses
If you thought your office was cramped try working in the back of a van. No really, Volkswagen thinks the cargo area of its new T6 Transporter commercial vehicle can double as the ultimate mobile hot desk and it’s kitted-out to vans to prove it.
VW’s Transporter mobile office conversions have been done to promote a survey it’s commissioned with the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) to show the importance of commercial vehicles to start-up businesses. The brand partnered with start-up business specialists Startup Direct to develop the concept hot-desking environments where people can work in comfort, without being restricted to one place.
There are two types of ‘office’ to suit different types of workers. One is designed as a “Creative Hub” which is fitted with a grass-effect carpet, whiteboards, beanbags and is intended to be a casual space to help encourage ideas, in a more informal setting. The other is a more typical office environment named “Power Office”. It’s in the back of a high-roof Transporter van and is fitted with pictures of city skyline views, leather chairs and a wooden desk. It attempts to gain the high-flying office feel, minus the fellow workers, windows and toilet facilities.
Volkswagen is the UK’s second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer and is keen to tap into the growing demand for vans from small businesses. Its survey shows self-employment rising by 17.5% since 2009 and the use of registered commercial vehicles rising by 400% over the same period. Van dependent businesses also bring £120billion to the UK economy.
The VW mobile office idea might seem far-fetched but behind the concept vans are the facts that by 2017 there are expected to be 11.7 million start-up businesses creating 3.4 million pop-up experiences. These new mobile businesses need flexible working environments so perhaps working out of the back of a van could become common practice in the future.
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