ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- May Mobility, a
leader in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology and shuttle
operations, in partnership with the City
of Grand Rapids, Via, the leader in TransitTech, and Gentex,
today announced the launch of an on-demand AV shuttle service in
Grand Rapids, Michigan. The
expanded, on-demand service began on July
26, 2021, as part of Phase 2 of the Grand Rapids Autonomous
Vehicle Initiative (AVGR), and transitions the prior fixed route AV
service into a flexible, dynamic system in a new service zone.
"We look forward to continuing our partnership with
the City of Grand Rapids
through an expanded zone in the downtown area," said
Edwin Olson, co-founder and CEO of
May Mobility. "The new service allows us to explore transportation
needs in new areas of the community and provides additional
opportunities for people to experience safer, greener, more
accessible transportation through autonomous mobility."
The on-demand service, which includes four May Mobility Lexus
RX450h vehicles and one wheelchair-accessible Polaris GEM
equipped with May Mobility's autonomous technology, operates within
a 1.36 sq. mile service zone that includes more than 20 designated
pick up and drop off areas in downtown Grand Rapids. The May Mobility AV shuttles are
free to ride and operate Monday – Friday from 7am – 7 pm.
"The City of Grand Rapids has
enjoyed its partnership with May Mobility to provide innovative
mobility options through the Grand Rapids Autonomous Vehicle
Initiative. We look forward to embarking on this next phase
together and support continued development of autonomous mobility
technology while providing another equitable mobility option to
connect underserved neighborhoods in Ward 1 to the downtown area,"
said Justin Kimura, the Assistant
Director of Mobile GR
Transitioning to "On Demand"
May Mobility has adopted
Via's autonomous fleet platform to power booking, routing,
passenger and vehicle assignment and identification, customer
experience, and fleet management as part of their new flexible
transit solution for this Grand
Rapids deployment. The partners have a long-term strategy to
introduce driverless on-demand shared transit systems in multiple
locations. The Grand Rapids launch
follows the companies' joint RAPID autonomous vehicle service in
Arlington, Texas. RAPID offers
autonomous vehicle rides as part of the City of Arlington's large on-demand public
transit service with Via, and is the first-of-its kind in the
US.
"In order for autonomous vehicles to reach their full potential
as part of large-scale transit networks, they must be on-demand,
optimally routed, and shared by multiple passengers," said
Cariann Chan, SVP of Business, Via.
"We are proud to work with May Mobility to offer Via's flexible
platform to help achieve this goal, and to play a leading role in
this new era of efficient and equitable transportation solutions in
Grand Rapids."
Riders can request vehicles within the designated area of
service by downloading the May Mobility mobile application, which
is available for both Android and iOS devices. The app
shows the rider the nearest pickup location and suggested drop off
location within closest proximity to their point of
interest.
No Item Left Behind
It's a common situation when an
item such as a mobile device, a briefcase or a purse is left on
public transportation and the subsequent feeling of helplessness
that follows. May Mobility and Gentex are working together to
integrate a data capture system with sensing pods into the May
Mobility self-driving shuttles that will help the companies develop
technology to track objects, monitor passenger health and safety,
and keep the vehicle clean and operational.
"We're excited to continue our partnership with May Mobility,"
said Neil Boehm, Gentex chief
technology officer. "This service expansion not only provides
the city with a unique, supplemental public transport hub, but also
acts as a real-world laboratory for studying, evaluating, and
testing various safety and convenience components necessary to
better support passengers in the autonomous age."
To celebrate the launch of the on-demand service in an adjacent
service zone May Mobility and MobileGR will host demonstration
rides on Aug. 24 from 10 am – 4 pm. at
the YMCA Grand Rapids, 475 Lake Michigan Dr NW.
About May Mobility
May Mobility is a leader in autonomous vehicle technology
development and deployment. With more than 275,000 autonomous rides
to date, May Mobility is committed to delivering safe, efficient
and sustainable shuttle solutions designed to complement today's
public transportation options. The company's ultimate goal is to
realize a world where self-driving systems make transportation more
accessible and reliable, the roads safer, and encourage better land
use in order to foster more green, vibrant, and livable spaces. For
more information, visit maymobility.com.
About Gentex
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX) is a supplier
of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and electronics to the
automotive industry, dimmable aircraft windows for aviation
markets, and fire protection products to the fire protection
market. Visit the company website at www.gentex.com.
About the City of Grand
Rapids
The City of Grand Rapids
provides a full range of services to residents, students and
visitors. Grand Rapids is a
diverse and culturally rich community of nearly 200,000 residents
located along the banks of the Grand River, 30 miles east of
Lake Michigan. It is the
second-largest city in Michigan
and serves as the county seat of Kent
County and the economic engine for the western part of the
state. Grand Rapids has been
recognized nationally for its quality of life and named one of the
25 best places to live in the U.S. It also has been touted among
the best cities to start a career, raise a family and retire, among
others. Stay connected with City news, events and information at:
grandrapidsmi.us, facebook.com/CityofGrandRapids ,
twitter.com/CityGrandRapids, and instagram.com/citygrandrapids.
About Via
Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using
new technologies to power public mobility systems, optimizing
networks of dynamic shuttles, buses, wheelchair accessible
vehicles, school buses, and autonomous vehicles around the globe.
Building the world's most efficient, equitable, and sustainable
transportation network for all riders — including those with
limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked
populations — Via works with its partners to lower the cost of
public transit and provide accessible options that rival the
convenience of a personal car at a much reduced environmental
impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via
is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with
sophisticated service design and operational expertise to
fundamentally improve the way the world moves, with 500 global
partners on six continents, and counting.
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SOURCE May Mobility