Disneyland’s Autopia, where visitors have driven small cars around a Tomorrowland track since 1955, is set to switch from gasoline engines to electric power after 71 years. The company has agreed to take its gasoline-powered fleet out of service by early 2027, though it has not publicly described the replacement system in detail.
The change follows a 2024 notice from the California Air Resources Board, which said Disney had not obtained the required emissions certification for the cars. Under an agreement with the state, Disney paid $56,250 and committed to retiring the fleet by the start of 2027.
Autopia’s current cars use 8.5-horsepower, four-stroke Honda engines. They can operate for up to 16 hours a day, producing exhaust and noise in an area of the park that also includes Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
Bob Gurr, who designed the attraction, told The New York Times that Disney executives showed him a model of the new version earlier this year. He said the track itself would be electrified, rather than each car carrying its own battery. Disney declined multiple requests for interviews and did not authorize photography or video inside the park for the report.
Honda’s current sponsorship agreement with Disneyland Resort runs until early 2027, and discussions about the future of the partnership are ongoing, a company spokesperson said. Honda declined to comment on its plans for Autopia.
Autopia has operated with few interruptions since Disneyland opened in 1955. Its cars and sponsors have changed over the years, but the attraction remains a familiar experience for generations of visitors. A similar gasoline-powered ride, Tomorrowland Speedway, continues to operate at Disney World in Florida; no plans to electrify it are known.
Sources: Folha Mercado.