• EV startup Chip Motors has opened preorders for a low-speed vehicle that claims it can park itself, pick up groceries, and drive itself home.
• The Chip EV will have a top speed of 25 mph, 100 miles of range, and the ability to be plugged into any standard household outlet.
• Four-seat configurations start at $15,000, and the six-seater starts at $18,000. Deliveries are expected in 2027, but pricing for the self-driving service has yet to be released.

We're still waiting on flying cars, but at least there's hope of a future where vehicles can pick up our groceries while we lounge on the beach. That's the idea behind Chip, a low-speed vehicle (LSV) that claims it can park itself or run errands while you spend more time enjoying life.

This week, EV startup Chip Motors unveiled a $15,000 vehicle that's part golf cart, part SUV, and part personal assistant. This Fiat Topolino rival will seat up to six people, and it's got a wealth of features that it claims help make "a big life feel lighter."

In an interview with InsideEVs, Jameson Detweiler, cofounder of Chip Motors, said he saw a shift in driving habits in Miami during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of using cars, people were opting to run errands in LSVs, such as golf carts.

But a standard golf cart isn't built to tackle roads every day, and it certainly can't pick up your groceries for you. The new Chip EV, on the other hand, claims it will self-park, drive home, pick up curbside orders, and even take itself to a car wash with the available "Chip Go" service, which employs real people to remotely operate the vehicle when nobody is inside.

With a top speed of 25 mph, the Chip EV is classified as a road-legal LSV that will be able to drive on most streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or under. The electric motor is powered by a 15-kWh battery that claims a range of up to 100 miles and will recharge to 100 percent overnight when plugged into a standard household wall outlet. On a Level 2 charger, Chip says it can recharge in just four hours.

It'll do it with a smile, too. Instead of a traditional grille, Chip's front fascia is dominated by a screen of pixels that light up to reveal a friendly smirk. Promotional videos show Chip blinking, winking, sticking its tongue out, and talking to its passengers.

The six-seater's boxy frame is roughly the same footprint as a Mini Cooper, and the four-seater is more similar in size to a golf cart. Both come standard without a roof or doors, but those can be added. Also available are a bike rack, a surf rack, off-road tires, and a TV and speaker set that is revealed when you lift the hood. The Chip EV is highly customizable, with nine colors to choose from and additional stripes and bizarre decals to peruse—including an alien abduction and an earthworm on a fishing hook.

Preorders are open now, and the Chip EV can be reserved for a fully refundable $250, although pricing is still largely unknown. The four-seater configuration will start at $15,000, while the six-seater starts at $18,000, but costs for add-ons and the Chip Go! service haven't been released yet. The company says deliveries are planned to start in 2027.