The future is here at Newark Liberty International Airport. Sort Of.
This spring, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will test three self-driving shuttle buses at EWR as part of an effort to modernize travel in the Tri-State area.
The Port Authority is partnering with autonomous vehicle technology companies Oceaneering, Ohmio, and Glydways to run two-week tests in controlled areas of EWR. These shuttles are zero-emissions electric vehicles, designed to simulate a high-capacity shuttle network with multiple vehicles operating simultaneously in a complex airport environment.
The move is part of a broader plan to build a Newark Airport that meets the demands of the next generation of travel—embracing innovative ways to transport people efficiently and safely.
The tests will not be conducted on public roads. Instead, they will simulate real-world airport conditions, including multiple shuttle operations within a confined environment. If approved, the self-driving shuttles could eventually provide automated connections between Newark’s existing facilities and the new $3.5 billion AirTrain system, scheduled to open in 2030.
Testing Schedule
- Oceaneering: March 2026
- Ohmio: Late March 2026
- Glydways: May 2026
These trials follow previous Port Authority experiments with autonomous travel.
Since 2022, the agency has tested lane-keeping and platooning on retrofitted buses in the Lincoln Tunnel’s Exclusive Bus Lane. In 2023, a 14-passenger autonomous shuttle was tested at EWR across a mix of scenarios, including closed-course and nighttime connections. The tests marked the first time an autonomous vehicle operated on a New Jersey public road.
All tests will include safety drivers onboard, and vehicles will operate at controlled speeds during the trials. If successful, it could pave the way for a larger autonomous shuttle network at Newark Airport.
As autonomous transportation technology evolves, passengers may soon find themselves riding self-driving shuttles between terminals, parking lots, and future AirTrain stations at Newark Airport.
It’s not exactly the flying cars from the Jetsons, but it’s certainly a start.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.