They have gone from concept to reality.
Ontario and Michigan have launched the first cross-border automated vehicle test drive in Windsor Monday morning.
One vehicle left the Windsor waterfront heading to Michigan using the tunnel, the other the bridge.
Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca and federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains were in Windsor to mark the milestone.
They says Ontario wants and needs to be a leading jurisdiction when it comes to automated vehicles because it is part of the future.
Del Duca says a lot of work still needs to be done to bring the vehicles to the mass market.
"There are a number of things to keep in mind because safety is our top priority at the ministry, so for example an appropriately licensed driver must be in the vehicle and behind the wheel at all times," he says. "It is a 10-year pilot, we built the pilot so it has enough nimbleness to be reviewed on an on-going basis."
A look inside an automated vehicle
He says this is about building the vehicles of tomorrow.
"I think it is a great opportunity for these two leading auto jurisdictions to partner, to share information, share research and share the learnings of what we are going through in this process."
As for the ride itself, Del Duca says "it is a leap forward. I don't want to use spooky, it's not spooky it is exciting."
Ontario and Michigan have signed a memorandum of understanding to harmonize the regulations of the vehicles.