Delaware’s state-owned DART transit system has received autonomous shuttles from manufacturer EasyMile
The vehicles were featured on the transit system’s social media page.
Delaware Department of Transportation spokesman C.R. McLeod said an announcement on deploying the shuttles is expected early next year.
EasyMile, a company based in France announced that one of its driverless shuttles is now used in bus service to a ferry in Australia and at a campus in Saudi Arabia.
The shuttles are expected to become increasingly used in office parks and other areas without high-speed traffic.
DART provides local bus service throughout the state of Delaware.
Delaware state officials have expressed an interest in being ahead of the curve as autonomous vehicles begin to make their presence known. Vehicles are now being tested in Pittsburgh, PA, and Phoenix suburbs.
“The Delaware Department of Transportation is recognized by industry experts across the country for innovation and forward-thinking, said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Ken Grant. “By introducing the public in Delaware to this autonomous vehicle technology, DelDOT is giving everyone an opportunity to gain first-hand experience, which AAA finds to be the best way to get informed input from the public.”
(Editor’s note: A previous version of this story featured Facebook posts from DART announcing the arrival of the shuttles. The posts have since been removed. The posts led to questions about self-driving vehicles leading to the loss of jobs and the use of a non-U.S. product)