GM and Segway have partnered to bring us the next generation of Segway transportation, the PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project).

Like the original Segway it is a cool display of technology and engineering. But also like the Segway, it leaves us scratching our heads as to what this could be used for.

GM and Segway seem to want to show a new direction for auto companies which would see them become something more like transportation companies – which creates a potential for some interesting possibilities. We’re not convinced if the PUMA is an example of said possibilities but hey, maybe we aren’t seeing all the potential uses here.

The PUMA was unveiled this morning in Manhattan where GM and Segway reps talked about how the PUMA marks a major milestone in the evolution of the automobile.

The PUMA is approximately 17 percent the size of a normal car and is completely battery-powered and will cost somewhere between one third and one fourth the amount it costs to run a normal car when you add up everything including things like insurance.

The GM Segway PUMA has a top speed of 35mph and a 35 mile range and can recharge for a cost of $0.35.

Will the PUMA be found more appealing by the market than the original Segway was? A source close to Eco Auto Ninja seems to think so, saying, “They look like fun. Damn, we should all just drive around in bumper cars.”