Driverless Autonomous Vehicle Testing to begin on Fremont Streets
On June 2, Pony.ai started driverless autonomous vehicle testing on streets in south Fremont. Pony.ai is a Fremont-based corporation that launched in 2016 and is one of eight autonomous vehicle companies that has received a permit by the California DMV for their advanced testing operations without an attendant within the vehicle.
In early 2020, the City of Fremont partnered with Pony.ai on a pilot program offering on-demand, autonomous service rides to a select group of City employees commuting from Fremont’s Amtrak/ACE station to City Hall in an effort to address regional and local traffic congestion. Pony.ai is now testing what may evolve into a “robotaxi” service that runs between the Warm Springs/South Fremont BART Station area, Pacific Commons, and job sites in the Warm Springs Innovation District.
A public safety plan for the autonomous vehicle operations was developed by Pony.ai in coordination with staff from the Fremont Fire Department, Fremont Police Department, Public Works, and Economic Development. An in-person orientation to the autonomous vehicles (AV) for public safety staff was held on May 28.
The AV test vehicles are Hyundai Kona electric vehicles and testing will take place on weekdays between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm on the following designated roads with speeds of no more than 45 miles per hour: