“It’s a sculpture on wheels” – FAW Trucks’ Concept 2036 offers a new take on the truck

Inside the vast halls at IAA Transportation in Hannover, one truck stood out amongst the rest for its distinct design language both inside and out. FAW Trucks’ TL.X concept is based on a multi-fuel platform which can be paired with five different powertrains: diesel, natural gas, hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell.

“The typical picture of a truck is something very boxy and inside there’s different storage and ornaments and that’s basically it,” Rustam Schogenow, exterior designer at FAW Munich, told Car Design News. “Our approach was more automotive design. We thought why not create something more sculptural, a sculpture on wheels.” 

By softening the edges, Schogenow explained the exterior is less intimidating and more friendly looking. “If you see trucks nowadays, in many cases, they are quite brutal. This one is something you have more trust with. For example, we have a big screen on the front which allows you to communicate with the outside world and pedestrians,” he added. 

The idea is that the driver would use the external screen to display messages such as warning vulnerable road users to be careful around the vehicle, acknowledging the driver has seen them or signalling when the vehicle is about to move away. In an industry where ADAS systems are increasingly being introduced, this is one of the few outward applications that could facilitate direct communication with other road users. 

Schogenow noted that the viability of the ideas shown on the concept would rest on local legislation but allows the team to think beyond the technology currently seen on trucks. While FAW Trucks has design capabilities in China, the TL.X concept was designed at the company’s Munich studio where the team uses AI and a digital-first approach to keep development time to a minimum. 

As the first domestic truck and car manufacturer in China, FAW is keen to continue that legacy as it looks to future innovations. “We think that if someone should do something new and completely revolutionary, it can only be FAW,” Schogenow said. “We try to be the first and if you’re that ambitious, and we’re very ambitious, we should also play globally. If you’re global, you should be represented in the West and in this case Europe. I think Munich is the perfect place for that.” 

It’s here that the interior design took shape as well. Wenyu Wu, interior designer at FAW Munich, said, “The design of this interior followed three pillars: homely design, AI supported interaction and modularity. The starting point is that truck drivers are always living in their truck but it has never really been designed for living in. Traditionally, it’s always been hard edges, hard material, rough surfaces and so on.” 

CMF was a key part of the TL.X interior with soft fabric lining every surface above floor level. Light colours keep the cab bright and clearly define each space, separating the working, living, storage and sleeping areas. Wu explained, “It’s not only an aesthetical point of view but also to highlight all of these modular pieces, you can choose the functions you want.” 

More like something you would find in a motorhome, the TL.X example on display at IAA had a pull-out kitchen module, complete with an electric burner, sink, cutlery drawer and shelves for crockery, pots and pans. Next to it, a wardrobe with hanging space, drawers underneath and a fridge below completed the single person living arrangement storage. 

From the sofa which comes with a powered footrest, the driver can watch TV on a screen that pops up out of the dash with a built-in projector. A side table by the sofa provides a space for additional appliances like a coffee machine which can be secured to a rail to keep it in place when the vehicle is moving. On the opposite wall, a large mirror brings additional light to the living room area. 

“The bed floats away when it’s not in use and then comes down along rails, so you can get on it with a ladder,” Wu said. “It’s to maximise the use in this very limited space. You can use the whole rear side of the living space while you’re sleeping. The front of the cab is a working area because we think in the L4 autonomous driving era, you will need someone inside to at least manage the driving for quite some time.” 

When the steering wheel is not needed, it flips up to reveal a foldout desk beneath and the driver mainly interacts with the vehicle via a large touchscreen. However, Wu pointed out the company’s AI assistant which is visualised through changing light graphics behind the fabric dashboard.

Wu added, “It’s been really hard to convince new generations to be a truck driver. The image of dirty hands and the blue-collar type of job is scaring off that new generation. It’s been tough, especially in China and in Europe as well, it’s not been very nice living conditions. We want to take care of the well-being of truck drivers but also to try to maximise space and integrate technologies to help them.” 

As Europe and other regions face growing driver shortages, the pressure on truck manufacturers is increasing to help fleet operators use their vehicles as recruitment and retention tools. For now, many of the ideas seen in the TL.X concept will stay in the concept world but Wu expressed the importance of introducing modularity in production models. 

He concluded, “Production trucks are not going to look exactly like this, but we are studying all these functions based on how truck drivers use the space when they’re living in the cab. We're also thinking about what they could need in the future that they cannot do today.”