News
Driverless electric pods are quietly circling a test track at Glydways’ 14-acre Development and Demonstration Facility at the former Hilltop Mall in Richmond, where the company is refining its on-demand automated transit system ahead of a planned public pilot next year.
Autonomous vehicle company Glydways began operating vehicles on the closed guideway this year, testing its zero-emission “Glydcars” in full system runs that simulate on-demand transit service. The vehicles are part of a fully autonomous network designed to carry passengers in small, privately booked pods on dedicated lanes separate from regular traffic.
Autonomous car company to create 14-acre facility at Hilltop Mall
Autonomous car company Glydways announced plans on Monday for a temporary development and demonstration facility at Hilltop Mall. The facility will include a dedicated test track, a 13,000-square-foot maintenance facility, and a visitor showroom. It will allow Glydways to test its autonomous transit network technology while showcasing its operations
Soren Hemmila
The Richmond facility includes more than a mile of guideway track, a 13,000-square-foot maintenance and storage building, and a control center housed in the former Sears building at Hilltop Mall. The site serves as the company’s primary hub for testing safety, reliability, and fleet operations before the public pilot expected in 2026.
City officials have said the project brings life back to the long-vacant Hilltop property while the broader Hilltop Horizon redevelopment plan moves forward. In a statement earlier this year, Richmond City Manager Shasa Curl said Glydways’ presence “helps activate the former mall site” and positions the city as a testing ground for innovative, zero-emission transportation.
Glydways turning Sears into AV command center at Hilltop Mall
Construction continues at Glydway’s 14-acre development hub, which is transforming part of the former Sears building at Hilltop Mall into a development and demonstration core for its all-electric transit technology. In January, Glydways announced it was building a temporary 14-acre testing hub for its Automated Transit Network technology. For the
Soren Hemmila
Glydways CEO Gokul Hemmady said the project represents progress toward building a scalable transit system that can reduce congestion and emissions.
“Our goal is to show that a system like this can move people efficiently and affordably,” Hemmady said when the facility was first announced.
The Richmond hub will also support future deployments, including a 28-mile automated transit network being developed with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Tri Delta Transit in East Contra Costa County.
The company, founded in 2016, describes its system as offering the convenience of ride-hailing at public-transit prices, using vehicles that travel continuously without traffic or stops until passengers reach their destination.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM - SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Grandview Independent needs your financial support to continue delivering the news that matters to our community. Quality journalism costs money, and we can't do it without readers like you.
SUBSCRIBE NOW and get:
• Unlimited access to all articles
• Newsletters with exclusive content
• The satisfaction of backing independent local news that serves your community
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE - Starting at just $10/month
FOLLOW US FOR BREAKING NEWS:
• Twitter: @GrandviewIndy
• Instagram: @GrandviewIndependent
• Facebook: @Grandview Independent
Copyright © 2025 Grandview Independent, all rights reserved.
Members Discussion