ANAHEIM, CA—The Autopia ride at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland has been a popular attraction among young and old visitors for decades. But, faced with recent backlash from environmental groups, the miniature car ride will switch from gas to battery power in 2026.
Electric vehicle advocates held a rally yesterday entitled “Disney: Dump the Pump.” The event at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA, was intended to celebrate Earth Day and call attention to the Autopia controversy.
The Autopia ride, currently sponsored by Honda Motor Co., is one of the oldest attractions at Disneyland, dating back to the mid-1950s. In the past, it was sponsored by oil companies such as Chevron and Atlantic Richfield.
According to the Disneyland website, the fiberglass-bodied Autopia cars feature “a working gas pedal and steering wheel. Each classy chassis seats two adults or three children, and navigates curves and inclines just like the real thing. Vehicles are equipped with front and rear bumpers and an undercarriage guide rail to safeguard your trip.
"Autopia is the only existing Tomorrowland attraction dating back to Disneyland Park’s opening day in 1955. When the cars first took to the road, they captured America’s fascination with the latest transportation innovation, the ‘freeway.’ Over the years, the roadways and car styles have been updated, but the fun stays the same.”
Disney is under pressure to go electric, because by 2035, all new vehicles sold in California must produce zero emissions.
