Jan 7, 2025 - Business

May Mobility looks to expand self-driving tech to 30-passenger minibuses

Joann Muller

Image of a future autonomous minibus from May Mobility — May Mobility and Italy's Tecnobus plan to bring self-driving minibuses to transit fleets by 2026. Photo: May Mobility

May Mobility, the scrappy autonomous vehicle startup, is partnering with Europe's Tecnobus to add electric, self-driving buses to its fleet.

Why it matters: May Mobility has found success by partnering with government agencies to integrate autonomous vehicles into public transit systems, rather than build an independent robotaxi service like General Motors and Ford have tried unsuccessfully to do.

Its revenue comes from government contracts, rather than individual ride fares, meaning a faster path to profitability, founder and CEO Edwin Olson tells Axios.

Details: The new autonomous electric minibus will seat up to 30 passengers and include access for multiple wheelchairs.

It could also be configured as a business-class cabin for executive transportation, Olson says.
Autonomous minibuses will be ready for deployment by 2026.

Where it stands: May Mobility currently operates its fleet of autonomous Toyota Sienna minivans in about a dozen cities in the U.S. and Japan.

In two communities — Sun City, Ariz., and Ann Arbor, Mich., — the vans are fully driverless. Most others still have a safety driver in the front seat.

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May Mobility looks to expand self-driving tech to 30-passenger minibuses

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