A chauffeured car can be one of the most productive places in a busy day: a quiet, private space between meetings where you can take calls, clear email and prepare. To make the most of it: charge devices, bring a hotspot or rely on your phone’s, use headphones for calls, prepare offline materials for tunnels and dead zones, tell your chauffeur you’ll be working, and avoid reading for long stretches if you’re prone to motion sickness.

Setting up

  • Power: most luxury vehicles have USB-C ports; bring your own cable.
  • Connectivity: mobile coverage is good in most of the city, but tunnels (Lincoln, Holland, Queens-Midtown) and some bridges cause brief drops. Download documents before you leave.
  • Headphones: noise-canceling earbuds improve call quality and privacy.
  • Laptop: the fold-down rear armrest or a lap desk works; SUVs have more space.

Calls

Luxury sedans are quiet enough for conference calls. Let the chauffeur know so they keep the radio off and minimize conversation. For confidential calls, read confidentiality and your chauffeur.

Motion comfort

Reading or screen work can cause motion sickness for some people. Tips:

  • Face forward and sit in the rear right seat, which offers the best view ahead.
  • Look up periodically at the horizon.
  • Keep the cabin cool and ventilated.
  • Switch to calls rather than reading if you feel unwell.

Planning your day

Plan work around travel: calls on longer highway stretches, email in slower city traffic, and a few minutes of quiet before important meetings. Read roadshow transportation planning.

The best vehicles for working

Long-wheelbase sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class offer quiet and legroom; SUVs offer more room to spread out. Read the S-Class rear-seat guide.