The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says it is partnering with three autonomous vehicle technology companies to test electric self-driving shuttles at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) throughout spring 2026.
The agency is evaluating options to provide automated connections between EWR’s existing facilities and the new AirTrain Newark people mover system currently under construction. The new AirTrain Newark is scheduled to open in 2030, and planning is underway for a future Terminal B that will be located adjacent to a future AirTrain station.
Zero-emissions vehicles from each firm will be tested separately in an area of the airport that is not publicly accessible during two-week periods. The tests are designed to simulate a high-capacity shuttle network with multiple vehicles operating simultaneously in a complex airport environment.
Oceaneering will be tested in March, Ohmio in late March and Glydways in May. The tests are intended to qualify participating firms to respond to a formal Port Authority request for proposals, which may be issued in 2027.
“As we advance the redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport, we are looking for opportunities to improve our passengers’ time at our airport through unique customer-first experiences as soon as you step onto airport property,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
“These tests this spring will enable us to build on our knowledge and prior experiences working with self-driving shuttles and create a highly customized journey that will be unique to Newark Liberty and tailored to our passengers’ needs,” he said.
The Port Authority’s October 2024 request for innovation invited proposals from companies that could provide an electric autonomous transportation network. Firms were asked to respond to how they could service two locations, about 2,500 feet apart, for five years.
The competitive evaluation process included scored submissions and interviews with top-performing firms. Three firms were selected for tests funded by the Port Authority. Each firm also participated in adverse weather testing earlier this winter to assess vehicle performance in snow and cold weather conditions.
The Newark Liberty tests will build on several successive years of autonomous vehicle demonstrations conducted at Port Authority airports. Autonomous vehicles may offer a safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective solution than traditional busing, though the agency will also evaluate conventional electric buses as part of its broader review of mitigation plans during the redevelopment of Newark Liberty.
The Port Authority’s $3.5 billion project to replace the existing AirTrain Newark began in October 2025, and advanced to major construction earlier this year.
The current system is unable to be expanded or upgraded to newer technology, and its route will hinder future airport growth, while the new AirTrain Newark is being designed to be expandable.
When the current system opened in 1996, the airport served approximately 30 million passengers each year. In 2024, Newark Liberty welcomed nearly 50 million passengers.
AirTrain ridership is forecasted to grow by 50% by 2040, exceeding the capacity of the existing system. Its new route allows for easier access to the new Terminal A, eliminating the current 15-minute walk between the AirTrain station and the terminal.
