Have you seen GM’s P.U.M.A.? (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project)

Recently, GM collaborated with Segway to create a new idea for urban transportation. It can carry only two people, is powered by batteries, runs like a segway and has a top speed of 35 mph.

The current prototype looks quite crude, and the fact that it works just like a segway (Lean forward to go, lean back to slow or stop) could be a turn off in a world of fast cars where the average driver (and even pedestrian) prefers to press on a pedal and zoom across town.

I wonder what would happen if you need to stop in an emergency. Or if a driver in a car is distracted for some reason and you (rolling in a P.U.M.A.) have to swerve to avoid a collision or just brake up.

I really hope that GM has taken such issues and more into consideration.

Still, limitations aside, they do have big plans for the future of this ride… and one of those include turning it into a sleek, sexy futuristic pod…couple that with not having to purchase gas, and you got perfect round-town transportation…great idea for tweens.

So what are critics saying about this?

To summarize: Interesting concept, but wrong timing. Did you know that Toyota also unveiled sleek personal transportations as well? When you get a chance, you can take a look at the Iswing(5 – 12 mph top speed)

and the winglet (3.5 mph top speed).
 

As far as my opinion goes, unless the new P.U.M.A. Gen-2 prototype due to be unveiled in the fall comes with radical new speedy and present day additions that can keep the competition at bay, and pique the public’s interest, it is highly likely that GM will have a hard time getting these machines into the hands of prospective buyers any time soon.