Where things stand
Nothing here is running yet, and we are not going to pretend otherwise.
Autonomous ride service in Arkansas requires state approval that takes a defined sequence and a minimum of six months of supervised operation. Below is that sequence and exactly where we are in it. We do not publish a launch date because we do not control one, and anyone who does publish one is guessing.
- 01
Company and insuranceIn progress
Commercial policy bound, vehicles titled and registered.
- 02
Driven service operating
Noire Chauffeur running paid trips with professional drivers.
- 03
Depot secured
Charging, cleaning and staging space in Northwest Arkansas.
- 04
State program application filed
Autonomous vehicle program application submitted to the Arkansas State Highway Commission under A.C.A. § 27-51-2002.
- 05
Six months supervised operation
State rules require a trained operator physically in the vehicle for the first six months of an approved program.
- 06
Physical operator requirement lifted
Application to remove the in-vehicle operator requirement — the prerequisite for a vehicle without conventional controls.
- 07
Driverless service
Autonomous rides available to the public in Northwest Arkansas.
Why we publish this
Several companies have put up regional sites promising autonomous fleets, with fares and launch timelines attached. None of them control the vehicle supply, the network terms, or the state approval. Neither do we.
What we do control is being straight about it. When a step below changes, this page changes, and anyone on our list hears about it the same day.