A self-driving car startup has launched what it claims is New York’s first autonomous driving vehicle program that will include a fleet of six self-driving vehicles.
The Optimus Ride program will use the automated cars to transport passengers between the New York City ferry stop at Dock 72 and the Brooklyn Navy Yard's Cumberland Gate at Flushing Avenue — a busy transportation hub for thousands of commuters.
The company said the vehicles are expected to transport 500 passengers per day and more than 16,000 passengers per month. The vehicles will run on a continuous loop during commuting hours as well as the weekends.
The Optimus Ride program launch comes after a $1 billion expansion to the Yard and will increase the Yard’s job total to 20,000 up from 10,000 by the end of 2021. This expansion includes the recently completed renovation of Building 77 to provide space to vertically integrated design and manufacturing companies and the ground-floor food manufacturing hub.
Further expansion includes a new office building at Dock 72, a light manufacturing and creative office building in Admiral’s Row, a green manufacturing center, and an expanded Steiner Studios, the largest film and television production studio outside of Hollywood.
Optimus Ride is one of a slew of companies that are developing self-driving ride services worldwide. Groupe Renault introduced a robo-pod concept vehicle that would carry people around cities from locations such as airports.
Waymo has been testing autonomous vehicles for the past few years, recently surpassing 10 million miles of public road testing. The company plans to use its vehicles for a fleet of self-driving taxis.
