May Mobility has launched the first on-demand public transit service using autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Arizona with its launch in the retirement community of Sun City. The service will be powered by Via.
The goal of the deployment is to use AVs to expand access to safe, reliable and equitable on-demand transportation to Sun City, a community designed for adults 55 and older. Via also aims to understand how its technology is adopted and addresses mobility challenges faced by aging adults.
The launch marks May Mobility’s first deployment in the western U.S. and underscores Arizona’s reputation as a testing ground and pioneer for AV technologies. May Mobility has a history seeking out diverse deployment environments to test and improve its proprietary Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology. Previous deployments span from the northeast to the midwest, to the south, in climates ranging from the subtropical climate in Arlington, Texas, to the winters in Grand Rapids, Minn.
“We’re fundamentally changing public transit, making it easier and more desirable than having a personal car,” said Edwin Olson, CEO for May Mobility. “People are living longer and we believe aging populations stand to gain greater access to mobility with autonomous vehicle technology. We’re committed to providing safe, reliable transportation for people who don’t want to or can’t drive themselves.”
“Via is proud to partner with May Mobility to introduce dynamically-routed, shared AVs to Arizona for the first time,” said Meghan Grela, autonomous lead at Via. “Our organizations are united by the vision that advanced technology is key to expanding access to efficient mobility for riders of all ages and needs, and we believe Sun City is a model for innovative, inclusive public transportation for other communities around the world.”
The service will operate Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through resident complexes, recreation centers, grocery stores, pharmacies and medical centers.
