Drive.ai To Launch Self-Driving Car Pilot In Frisco, Texas

Drive.ai, the California self-driving car startup, announced Monday (May 7) that it is launching an on-demand self-driving car service pilot in Frisco, Texas.

In a press release, Drive.ai said that starting in July — and in conjunction with the Frisco Transportation Management Association, it will offer rides to more than 10,000 people in self-driving vehicles. The rides will be available within a geofenced area that is compromised of retail, entertainment and office space. The pilot will initially run for six months with the first pickup and drop off locations near HALL Park and The Star. The plan is to expand into Frisco Station, Drive.ai said in the press release. It marks the first time self-driving cars will be on the public roads of Texas, noted the company. “Frisco is recognized as a leader in using ‘smart,’ innovative traffic technologies,” said Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney in the press release. “Drive.ai’s autonomous vehicles will help people get around one of our most vibrant, commercial areas along Frisco’s ‘North Platinum Corridor.’ Today definitely marks a mobility milestone for our entire region. It also gets us closer to achieving one of our council’s ‘Top Ten’ goals, which is to improve traffic throughout Frisco, one of the fastest growing cities in the country.”

Drive.ai’s self-driving on-demand service will be operated in conjunction with Frisco Transportation Management Association, which is a public-private partnership focused on bringing innovative last-mile transportation options to the city. Ahead of the launch of the pilot, Drive.ai said office employees, residents and consumers will be gradually be on-boarded into the program to gain access to the ride-hailing mobile app. Once the program is live, riders use the app to hail free on-demand rides in self-driving cars.  “Self-driving cars are here, and can improve the way we live right now,” said Sameep Tandon, co-founder and CEO of Drive.ai, in the same press release. “Our technology is safe, smart, and adaptive, and we are ready to work with governments and businesses to solve their transportation needs. Working with the City of Frisco and Frisco TMA, this pilot program will take people to the places they want to go and transform the way they experience transportation.”