When Disneyland announced that Autopia would be switching to electric vehicles, we were beyond thrilled. No horrific gas smell? No screaming, loud noises? Sign us up!
Autopia in Disneyland
Beyond guest enjoyment, part of the reason Disneyland is making these changes is because of a settlement agreement with the state agency that regulates air pollution in California. These changes have to happen before February 2027…but what if they don’t?
Disneyland is planning on updating Autopia with fully electric vehicles and retiring the gas engines that have powered the ride since its 1955 debut, and according to the Orange County Register, Disneyland has reached an agreement with the Air Resources Board to retire the engines by early 2027.
Autopia ticket
Disneyland officials say they are working on the design, engineering, and testing of the new Autopia vehicle prototype. In 2024, Disneyland paid a $56,000 settlement to the California Air Resources Board after disclosing that the Honda engines on Autopa ride vehicles were operating without certified emission controls. The fine was a result of an administrative oversight and was promptly corrected with no impact on the environment.
Autopia Car
No closing or reopening dates have been set for the attraction yet, despite Disneyland originally announcing the plan in 2024 to convert the vehicles by fall 2026. One of the last major refurbishments for Autopia happened in 2016 when Honda became the sponsor after Chevron. The 10-year contract with Honda to sponsor the attraction ends in 2026.
Disneyland Tomorrowland
With the deadline approaching, what happens if they don’t make the changes? More likely or not, the attraction will have to shut down until the changes can be made. Disneyland has not made any announcements and has only talked about changing the vehicles, not closing down the entire attraction.
Disneyland
Disneyland Resort has made a sustainability commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2030 by increasingly relying on cleaner renewable energy sources.
Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more Disney news.
READ ABOUT THE DISNEYLAND FORWARD EXPANSION HERE!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
I really hate the smell of this ride; I can’t wait in line for this as it gives me a headache. Why Disney hasn’t already gone to electric for Tomorrowland is mind boggling. I’d actually be willing to ride this again if they make it fully electric. As it stands right now, it just makes me angry that it takes up so much space for such a lame ride.