New York state’s first self-driving vehicle program will officially launch on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 

The program will feature autonomous vehicles from Optimus Ride, as six of the company's autonomous vehicles will be used to transport passengers between the NYC Ferry stop at Dock 72 and the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Cumberland Gate at Flushing Avenue.

According to Optimus Ride, its vehicles will transport an expected 500 passengers per day and more than 16,000 passengers per month.

“Launching our self-driving vehicle system in New York at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is yet another validation that not only is Optimus Ride’s system a safe, efficient means of transportation, but also that autonomous vehicles can solve real-world problems in structured environments – today,” says Dr. Ryan Chin, CEO and co-founder of Optimus Ride.

“In addition, our system will provide access to and experience with autonomy for thousands of people, helping to increase acceptance and confidence of this new technology, which helps move the overall industry forward. We’re thrilled to work with the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation to make history in the city and the state.”

The vehicles will initially have a safety driver and software operator on board. On weekdays, the system will run on a continuous loop from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. between the dock and the Cumberland Gate. The system will run during the same time period on the weekends, between the dock and Building 77. 

“We are excited to bring the future of transportation to New York with Optimus Ride, and provide the 10,000 employees across the Yard and the Brooklyn community with greater access to convenient mobility,” says David Ehrenberg, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

Based in Boston, Optimus Ride has already deployed its vehicles in several Boston-area locations. Since launching in 2015, the company has successfully completed more than 20,000 trips.

Optimus Ride notes that it has agreements in place to deploy its autonomous vehicles in Reston, Virginia, Fairfield, California, and the Raymond Flynn Marine Industrial Park and Seaport District in Boston.