Optimus Ride launches AV service at Brooklyn Navy Yard

Optimus Ride is operating an autonomous vehicle (AV) service at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York and expects to transport more than 16,000 passengers per month. The 300-acre industrial park has more than 400 manufacturing businesses and 10,000 employees on site. Dr. Ryan Chin, Optimus co-founder, says the system will “provide access to and experience with autonomy for thousands of people, helping to increase acceptance and confidence of this new technology”. Optimus is operating six AVs between the NY
August 27, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
Optimus Ride is operating an autonomous vehicle (AV) service at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York and expects to transport more than 16,000 passengers per month.


The 300-acre industrial park has more than 400 manufacturing businesses and 10,000 employees on site.

Dr. Ryan Chin, Optimus co-founder, says the system will “provide access to and experience with autonomy for thousands of people, helping to increase acceptance and confidence of this new technology”.

Optimus is operating six AVs between the NYC Ferry Stop at Dock 72 and the Yard’s Cumberland Gate at Flushing Avenue.

Initially, a safety driver and software operator will remain onboard when the vehicle is in operation. Each vehicle will be able to carry up to four passengers on a loop between the dock and Cumberland Gate. During weekends, the service will run between the dock and Building 77.

The deployment comes as the yard undergoes a $1 billion expansion, which is expected to increase jobs in the area from 10,000 to 20,000 by 2021.

Additionally, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) announced a $2.5 billion plan to create 10,000 additional jobs in manufacturing buildings, bringing the total number to 30,000 in coming decades. BNYDC will also aim to provide improved lighting and streets to make the area more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.

Related Content

  • Init breaks ground on new North American headquarters
    May 24, 2016
    Init will break ground this week on their new 70,000 square foot North American headquarters building in Chesapeake, Virginia. The facility will be constructed on an eight acre parcel of land inside the Oakbrooke Business and Technology Center and, once completed, will feature 20,000 square feet of office space, 30,000 square feet of warehouse space and 20,000 square feet of space dedicated to the company’s two manufacturing firms, Total Quality Assembly (TQA) and Superior Quality Manufacturing (SQM).
    Read More
  • Bike Share Toronto expands service
    July 19, 2019
    Bike Share Toronto is to add 1,250 bicycles, 105 stations and 2,292 docking stations to its network and will expand into new neighborhoods in the Canadian city. The deployment follows a commitment by the city’s mayor John Tory and the Toronto Parking Authority to extend bike-sharing services in the region. Tory says: “We will continue to push for the expansion of Bike Share to new neighbourhoods because we know it leads to increased ridership and membership for this important service.” Bike Sha
    Read More
  • New York's congestion charging scheme is finally underway
    January 6, 2025
    First US city to introduce such a scheme: drivers now pay $9 per day
    Read More
  • Pennsylvania and Georgia contract wins for Rekor Systems
    January 29, 2024
    Firm studies vehicle patterns in Philadelphia's Navy Yard and in Metro Atlanta
    Read More

Highlighted Content