Ann Arbor-based May Mobility has announced its plan to launch a new autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttle service, the A2GO, in Ann Arbor this fall with a fleet of five fully autonomous on-demand vehicles.
“We are thrilled to be launching a new shuttle service here in our hometown so that our friends, family and the entire community of Ann Arbor can experience our self-driving technology firsthand,” says Edwin Olson, founder and CEO of May Mobility.
A2GO’s fleet will launch on Oct. 11 and feature four hybrid vehicles capable of transporting up to three passengers, along with a fifth fully electric vehicle that will be capable of handicap passenger transportation.
Through the May Mobility app — which will be available free for the public near launch date — passengers will be able to board the vehicles and commute throughout Ann arbor.
“This deployment demonstrates the collaboration happening in Michigan across public and private sectors that is driving impactful transportation solutions,” says Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer for the state of Michigan. “A2GO combines Michigan’s opportunistic approach to the advancement of new mobility technology with our commitment to improving the quality of life for people across the state and we are excited to help bring this innovative shuttle service from May Mobility to Ann Arbor.”
This will not be May Mobility’s first work in shuttle service. The company currently has fleets operating in Grand Rapids, Arlington, Texas, and Hiroshima, Japan.
The launch will require trust and support from the community, along with various strategic partners with similar goals for Ann Arbor.
Companies like 4M and !Important Safety Technologies (IST) are two examples of A2GO partners who share a common goal for the community. 4M’s stated purpose is to develop co-living smart homes throughout Ann Arbor that offer co-working and mobility solutions to its participants.
Montréal-based IST makes intelligent public safety technology that communicates with AVs on the road in real-time. IST’s safety technology first debuted when the company first introduced its technology to Ann Arbor through a program launched in 2019, Ann Abor SPARK. The program revolutionized the field of pedestrian safety and the integration communication of AV for public benefit.
“Connecting companies like May Mobility and !Important Safety is a way SPARK’s work advances our economy, ensuring that the technology our futures demands is being developed here in the Ann Arbor region,” says Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. “The power of partnerships is evident in May Mobility and !Important Safety working together to improve the safety of autonomous vehicles, which is critical to ensuring pedestrian safety and consumer adoption of this emerging technology. It’s exciting that work being developed and tested in Ann Arbor has potential global impact.”
 shuttle service, the A2GO, in Ann Arbor this fall.){kind=link}