Jun 25, 2025 - Business

Exclusive: Beep gets AV transit deal in Jacksonville

Joann Muller

Image of an autonomous shuttle van in Jacksonville, Fla., part of a new transit service operated by the mobility service provider, Beep — Beep's autonomous public transit service, NAVI, opened this week in Jacksonville, Florida. Photo: Courtesy of Beep

Beep, a shared mobility startup, is unveiling a new autonomous public transit system in Jacksonville, Florida, next week, Axios is first to report.

Why it matters: NAVI, short for Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation, is the nation's first fully autonomous public transit system, according to Beep.

Zoom in: Beep will operate the urban circulator service under a $36 million contract awarded by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

It includes a fleet of 14 Ford eTransit vans integrated with Oxa's automated driving technology.
A safety operator will be in the driver's seat in case of emergency, Beep cofounder and newly appointed CEO Kevin Reid tells Axios.
Each of the ADA-compliant vans is equipped with a ramp for wheelchair passengers.

Between the lines: The Jacksonville transit system represents a new level of maturity for Beep, which has previously deployed 38 AV pilot programs across nine states.

The route will cover 13 stops across a 3.5-mile route, connecting key parts of downtown Jacksonville, from the Central Business Core to the Sports and Entertainment District, in an effort to encourage downtown revitalization.
In the future, Beep will go further into Jacksonville's neighborhoods and offer more on-demand rides, Reid said.

Related: Beep just raised $53 million in a funding round co-led by Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital.

The new financing brings Beep's total capital raised to $98 million, and will be used to expand further into key markets.

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Exclusive: Beep gets AV transit deal in Jacksonville

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