Disneyland Autopia Electric Track: New Details on 2027 Cars

For more than 70 years, the sound and smell of gas engines have been part of the deal at Disneyland’s Autopia. That’s about to change. The ride’s gas cars are set to retire in early 2027, and now we have our first real hint about what replaces them. According to a new report from The New York Times, the new Disneyland Autopia electric track will power the cars directly, so each car may not need its own battery.

That detail comes from Bob Gurr, the Disney Legend who designed the original Autopia cars for Walt Disney himself. He also shared that Honda may stay on as sponsor, though Honda says talks are still ongoing.

Here’s what we know about the new Autopia, where the Honda sponsorship stands, and what it could mean for Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom.

Quick Summary

• Disneyland’s Autopia is set to retire its gas-powered cars in early 2027
• According to Bob Gurr, Disney will electrify the track itself rather than put a battery in each car
• Gurr said Disney executives showed him a model of the new attraction earlier this year
• Honda’s current sponsorship agreement ends in early 2027, and Honda says talks are ongoing
• Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland Speedway still uses gas cars, with no known plans to convert it
• Disney has run an electric Autopia before, at Hong Kong Disneyland, where it closed in 2016

How the New Autopia Electric Track Could Work

This is the big news. Bob Gurr told The New York Times that Disney executives invited him to a facility earlier this year to see a model of the new attraction. According to Gurr, Disney will electrify the track itself, so each car won’t need its own battery.

He described the new Autopia as electric, but “not the conventional idea of a battery in a car.”

That’s a meaningful detail. Most people assumed the new Autopia would simply swap in battery-powered cars. A powered track is a different approach. It could mean:

• No battery charging downtime, since the cars draw power as they drive
• Lighter cars, without a heavy battery pack in each vehicle
• A quieter ride, with no engine noise rumbling through Tomorrowland
• Cleaner air in the queue and around the attraction

Disney hasn’t confirmed any of this. Everything so far comes from Gurr’s account of what he saw.

Bob Gurr’s Long Push for Electric Autopia

Gurr isn’t just any source here. He designed the original Autopia cars, and he says he has pushed Disney for years to get rid of the gasoline engines. So it makes sense he’d be excited to see the change happen.

There’s an interesting wrinkle, though. After the interview, Gurr’s representative asked the Times to retract it, saying Disney had asked Gurr to stop giving interviews about the ride. The Times published the interview anyway, noting that Gurr had not asked to speak off the record.

That tells you Disney isn’t ready to talk about the new Autopia yet. So treat these details as an early look, not a final design. If you want more on Gurr, we covered his appearance at the Walt Disney Gulfstream interior tours last month.

Where Honda’s Sponsorship Stands

According to what Gurr heard, Honda will continue as Autopia’s sponsor. Honda itself was more careful. The company declined to discuss its plans, but Honda spokesman Matt Howells said the current sponsorship agreement with Disneyland Resort ends in early 2027. He added that discussions about the future of the partnership “are currently ongoing.”

That timing lines up with the switch to electric cars, so a new deal could arrive alongside the new fleet. For now, it’s not official.

How We Got Here: The Autopia Timeline

Autopia has been part of Tomorrowland since Disneyland opened in 1955, giving generations of young drivers their first turn behind the wheel. The move away from gas has been in the works for a while:

• April 2, 2024: Disneyland confirmed it was developing plans to replace Autopia’s gas cars
• April 18, 2024: Disneyland committed to an all-electric Autopia fleet by fall 2026
• 2024: Disney paid a $56,250 settlement to the California Air Resources Board and agreed to retire the gas-powered fleet by early 2027
• May 2026: Disneyland confirmed the gas engines will retire in early 2027 and said electric prototype vehicles were in testing
• November 2026: The New York Times reported that the new Autopia will use an electrified track, with Honda’s sponsorship still under discussion

You’ll notice the target slipped from fall 2026 to early 2027. That’s normal for a project like this, and it matches the end of Honda’s current agreement.

What This Means for Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom

If you’re a Walt Disney World fan, you’re probably wondering about Tomorrowland Speedway. Here’s where it stands: Magic Kingdom’s version still uses gas-powered cars, and there are no known plans to convert it.

The Speedway has seen smaller updates over the years. Its track got shorter in 2019 to make room for TRON Lightcycle / Run, and Disney more recently installed new concrete along turn one to keep cars from jumping lanes.

If the electrified track works well in Anaheim, a similar approach could make sense in Florida someday. On the other hand, plenty of fans have argued for removing the Speedway entirely, given how much space it takes up in Tomorrowland. For now, all of that is speculation.

It’s also worth remembering that Disney has done electric Autopia before. Hong Kong Disneyland ran an electric version of the attraction until it closed in 2016.

The Bottom Line

The Disneyland Autopia electric track is the most interesting Autopia news in years. According to Bob Gurr, the new cars will draw power from the track instead of carrying batteries, which should make for a quieter, cleaner drive through Tomorrowland when the gas fleet retires in early 2027.

Disney hasn’t confirmed the design, and Honda’s sponsorship is still being worked out, so expect more official details closer to the switch. If you’re planning a Disneyland trip, try to ride the classic gas cars before they’re gone. And if you’re a Tomorrowland Speedway fan in Florida, keep an eye on how Anaheim’s version turns out. We’ll keep tracking both.

20% Off site-wide, plus Free Shipping on all orders of $65+

Over 75+ Designs! Your next park shirt is just a click away

Looking To Book Your Dream Disney Vacation?

Save time & money on your vacation

Your Disney vacation should create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.

Whether you’re a first-time Disney vacationer or looking to plan your next magical adventure, it isn’t enough just to go on a Disney vacation. We want you to talk about your vacation for years to come and create memories you’ll cherish forever. Vacation is calling! Are you ready to answer?

REQUEST QUOTE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Jonathan Cotton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I’m no stranger to Disney planning, as a Disneyland magic key holder and DVC member. I’m the person people ask for trip planning advice. But I had never been on a Disney cruise, and had heard great about Nate and decided to reach out. I’m so glad I did because we could not have been happier with our experience. His tips and insights were incredibly helpful, and he was incredibly responsive any time we had a question. Who do the Disney experts turn to when they need help? Nate, that’s who.

We’ll definitely be using him again.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Andria Skornik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Our experience working with Nate as our Disney vacation planner was exceptional. He was responsive and thorough. He gave us insights that made the trip go much more smoothly. We were able to really relax and focus on quality time as a family and have so much fun doing it! I will definitely reach out for any future trips.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 rpwoodjr 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Could not have wanted or expected more from Nate, our Distrips and More agent as we planned our 2025 Disney World trip. Nate was VERY responsive to emails and texts and more than willing to do whatever he could to guide us and answer our questions.  On several occasions I emailed him over the weekend not expecting a response until Monday but each time he responded before the weekend was over.  He even participated in a Zoom session with our group of five seniors as we planned our trip. He also helped us at the 11th hour when we added a family member to our travel group less than a month before our trip.  Without a doubt, I will reach out to Nate when I'm ready to plan my next trip to Disney World!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Homero Rendon 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We are so thankful we used Nate to plan not only our first Disney trip, but also our second. He made the process so easy for us, especially for us since it was our first time going. There was a lot to consider and many decisions to make, such as where to stay, when to go, and what to experience. Nate really helped us narrow down what we wanted to do overall, but he didn’t stop there. He provided detailed guides to help us navigate the airport and find our transportation to the resort, as well as a guide to explore the resorts and make sure we saw the best Christmas decorations. One of the many amazing things he also did was set up our dinner reservations for us. This saved us so much stress and allowed us to get some of our top choices. From the moment we landed in Orlando to the moment we headed back home, he made sure everything went smoothly. You truly can’t go wrong with going to him for your next trip.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Lee Mathes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate was absolutely the best planner I have ever had.  Will most definitely be using him again.   He took care of everything and kept me on track.  Was so very helpful in making all the dining reservations and everything.   Can't thank him enough.   He made our trip completely stress free!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Amanda Moran 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nathan has been an amazing trip planner for me! So helpful and responsive. I am a very type A person -- so someone who is even more on top of their game than me -- is so so appreciated! Nathan has booked 3 trips for me (1 completed 2 pending) and it was perfection. Thanks again!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Hyperion Adventures Podcast 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate has helped us with our vacation planning for the last couple of years and we couldn't be happier with his service and expertise. We've used other travel agents in the past and none of them have done as phenomenal a job to make sure every detail is taken care of as he has. Switching to Nate was one of the best decisions we've ever made. He's always quick to answer questions and works tirelessly to make sure we get everything we want from our trips. Plus, he's just a genuinely great person who is wonderful to work with. Whether you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, a Disney Cruise, or any other vacation, Nate is the guy you want putting it all together! Five stars across the board!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 7 reviews 
 
   
 
 

Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!