Disneyland Paid $56,000+ Settlement Over Autopia Emissions

Disneyland Resort paid a $56,250 settlement to the California agency that regulates air pollution when it was discovered Autopia cars were operating without certified emission controls.

Autopia Fine

Disneyland Paid $56,000+ Settlement Over Autopia Emissions

Disney announced in April 2024 that Autopia would convert from gas power to electric. We now know this followed their September 2023 disclosure to the California Air Resources Board that the Honda engines on Autopia ride vehicles had been modified in a way that violated state regulations for small off-road engines.

In February 2024, state regulators alleged that the attraction was operating without certified emission controls and in August 2024, Disneyland voluntarily agreed to pay the settlement to resolve the violations without admitting liability, according to The Orange County Register.

Disneyland officials said the fine was the result of an administrative oversight that was promptly corrected with no impact to the environment.

Disney originally stated they would convert Autopia to fully electric vehicles by fall 2026. They most recently changed the timeline to early 2027, per an agreement with the California Air Resources Board.

Disneyland is working on designing, engineering, and testing of a fully electric Autopia car prototype.

Disney Legend Bob Gurr, who designed Autopia, approves of the change.

Disneyland Resort committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2030.

Autopia opened with Disneyland in 1955. Honda became the attraction’s sponsor in 2016, resulting in a significant refurbishment of the attraction. In the past, it has been sponsored by Richfield Oil and Chevron.

The Hong Kong Disneyland version of Autopia, which operated from 2006 to 2016, was fully electric. Gas-powered versions also exist at Disneyland Paris and Magic Kingdom (Tomorrowland Speedway). The Tokyo Disneyland version, Grand Circuit Raceway, closed in 2017.

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