Workers had a glimpse of the future as an electric driverless taxi was tested for the first time at Arval’s Paris headquarters.

When operational the vehicle will travel on the open road, carrying up to 15 passengers from the nearest train station to the HQ building as part of the first trial of its kind in France.

Possible to book from a smart phone, the mobility solution forms part of an international research and development network with other projects to be trialled in the Netherlands, Norway and France.

Together with staff and stakeholders, Arval’s Chairman and CEO Alain Van Groenendael, previewed the vehicle which may be in operation as early as March 2020.

He said:

"We’re extremely proud of this mobility trial, it’s the first time an autonomous electric vehicle has been tested by a private company in France. This is strategic innovation in action, with our colleagues helping us to test a safe, environmentally friendly transport solution which could be used by our customers and their employees in the future."

Founded in 1989 and fully owned by BNP Paribas, Arval specialises in full service vehicle leasing with almost 1.2m vehicles on fleet.