Cities around the world struggle with increasing congestion, emissions, and strained public transit systems. Glydways has emerged with an ambitious vision: to redefine urban mobility with a revolutionary Automated Transit Network (ATN). Unlike traditional public transit solutions, Glydways’ approach integrates on-demand, private ride experiences with the efficiency and scale of mass transit—all within a small footprint.
Backed by Suzuki Motor Corporation, Sam Altman (Apollo), Bill Gates (Gates Frontier Fund), and Vinod Khosla (Khosla Ventures), Glydways made its CES debut last month, unveiling its innovative Glydcar and sharing insights into how its system could reshape the future of transportation. But beyond the technology, Glydways is also challenging the economics and accessibility of transit, aiming to build a scalable model that operates without heavy subsidies—something nearly unheard of in the public transit sector.
I recently spoke with Gokul Hemmady, CEO of Glydways, and Mark Seeger, founder and chief strategy officer at Glydways, about the challenges of mass transit and how they propose to tackle them.
A System Built for Accessibility and Efficiency
The idea for the company was born out of a simple but profound observation: mobility is directly linked to opportunity. “Through access to mobility, you have access to employment, education, healthcare, commerce—everything that makes modern life possible,” Seeger explained. “But as urban congestion worsens, people’s radius of opportunity shrinks because they just can’t get where they need to go efficiently.”
According to Seeger, only 201 cities worldwide even have mass transit, and most of them have just a few train lines. This leaves thousands of cities in what he calls an “absolute congestion nightmare,” limiting economic potential and social mobility. Glydways’ solution is a fully automated, demand-responsive network that moves people in small autonomous electric vehicles along dedicated pathways—avoiding congestion altogether. The system is designed to operate 24/7, provide direct trips with no stops, and integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure.
But Seeger was quick to emphasize that Glydways isn’t just a new vehicle—it’s a system. “Tesla, Waymo, Uber—they’re all focused on the car,” he said. “We take a broader approach. Our system includes the vehicle, the infrastructure, and the software that orchestrates everything. That’s what enables us to move 10,000 people per hour in a bike-lane-sized space—equivalent to a five-lane highway’s capacity.”
Overcoming Infrastructure Challenges and Global Adoption
One of the biggest challenges in launching an innovative transit solution is securing infrastructure investment—particularly in the U.S., where funding for new transportation models is notoriously difficult to obtain. However, Glydways’ business model aims to break the mold.
“Our first few projects will be operationally subsidy-free—something that has never happened in transit,” said CEO Gokul Hemmady. “We’re proving that these systems can generate revenue while still charging fares comparable to public transit.”
Hemmady also pointed out that Glydways has already seen success in securing contracts. “We’ve won four out of four RFPs [Requests for Proposals], three of which have converted into contracts. We’re in 109 active conversations globally, and cities are seeing the value proposition: lower costs, faster implementation, and significantly reduced environmental impact.”
The U.S. remains a key market, with Glydways’ first commercial system launching in Atlanta in 2026, followed by a project in San Jose. But internationally, the company sees even greater potential. “If we’re talking about 55 million annual ridership in a single Indian city, that changes the game,” Hemmady noted. “In places like Manila, Mumbai, and Singapore, Glydways fits perfectly because space is at a premium, and traditional transit solutions aren’t feasible.”
Seeger echoed this sentiment, highlighting the Philippines as a key example. “Manila has 41 million people crammed into a space smaller than New York City. They don’t have the option to do nothing. They have to innovate, and that’s why we’re seeing such strong demand internationally.”
The Role of Suzuki and Strategic Partnerships
One of Glydways’ most significant backers is Suzuki Motor Corporation, a partnership that Seeger described as a natural fit. “Suzuki’s corporate philosophy is ‘Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi’ —smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter. That’s exactly what Glydways is about,” he said. “They saw our vision and immediately understood that this is the future of urban mobility.”
Suzuki will be Glydways’ primary vehicle manufacturer, leveraging its deep experience in compact, efficient transport solutions. Meanwhile, ACS—a $40 billion infrastructure company based in Spain—has partnered with Glydways to handle construction, operations, and maintenance, ensuring the system can be deployed at scale.
Hemmady emphasized the broader implications of Suzuki’s involvement. “This isn’t just about building vehicles—it’s about rethinking the entire business model. Suzuki has publicly stated that they want to take cars off the road. How many car companies say that?”
A New Development Hub and the Road Ahead
To support its rapid expansion, Glydways has announced a 14-acre Development and Demonstration Facility in Richmond, California. This facility will serve as a testing ground for refining the system and preparing for upcoming commercial deployments.
“The first time we moved people at our old facility, we brought in real commuters—people in wheelchairs, those hard of hearing, and those who rely on public transit daily,” Seeger recalled. “Seeing their reaction, realizing that this could be their daily commute—it was mind-blowing.”
The new Richmond facility represents a step forward in proving the system’s viability and demonstrating its scalability to cities worldwide.
Reimagining Public Transit for the 21st Century
While the challenges of implementing a new transit model remain steep, Glydways’ vision is attracting serious attention. With a scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach, the company presents a compelling alternative to traditional mass transit.
For cities facing gridlock and transit inefficiencies, Glydways offers an intriguing question: What if public transit didn’t have to mean waiting, stopping, or sharing space with strangers? What if it worked like ride-hailing but at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact?
With its first commercial system launching in 2026 and increasing international demand, Glydways is on the brink of turning its ambitious concept into reality. Whether it can reshape the future of urban mobility remains to be seen, but for now, it stands as one of the most compelling transit experiments in recent memory.