One of the most unusual vehicles on display during the 2002 show was the POD concept car, jointly developed by Toyota and Sony. POD, stood for personalization on demand. The car could sense the mood of the driver, whether happy or upset. Light emitting diodes accentuate the POD’s front design and changed color according to the driver’s frame of mind. Around the rear of the car, a radio antenna could wag like a pet dog tail. In place of a steering wheel and pedal controls, the car had a single joystick to control vehicle direction, acceleration and braking. Chicago was the first North American showing of the cartoonish POD concept.
