Disney has until 2027 to modernize Autopia or close historic attraction

One of Disneyland’s most iconic attractions, Autopia will have to undergo extensive modernization to continue operating. Disney has been given a deadline by California environmental authorities to bring the attraction’s vehicles up to emissions standards, risking closure.

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In 2024, the company agreed to pay a $56,250 fine to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) after it was found that Honda engines used in karts operated without the certified emissions controls required by the agency.

As part of the agreement, Disneyland will have until February 1, 2027 to upgrade the attraction with engines compatible with environmental legislation. The expectation is that the solution adopted will be the complete electrification of the fleet, an alternative that was already being studied by the company.

In a statement released earlier, Disney said it is developing a plan to replace gasoline engines with new technologies aligned with the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Opened on July 17, 1955, Autopia is part of Disneyland’s group of original attractions and is the only one remaining in the Tomorrowland area. The proposal allowed visitors to drive small cars on a miniature version of American highways, reflecting the era’s enthusiasm for the expansion of automobile culture and the vision of the future associated with the roads.

More than seven decades later, however, the concept began to contrast with the futuristic theme of the area itself. Known for the noise of engines and the smell of fuel, the attraction is often pointed out by visitors as one of the park’s most outdated experiences in terms of technology.