Florida officials highlight autonomous vehicle, air mobility testing at SunTrax POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Florida officials on Monday highlighted new testing and workforce-development efforts aimed at advancing autonomous vehicles and future air travel at the SunTrax facility in Polk County. The Florida Department of Transportation said SunTrax is testing autonomous and connected vehicle technology in a controlled setting. The facility can simulate dry and rainy conditions, urban traffic, pedestrian crossings, hills and other conditions autonomous systems could encounter on public roads. “This gives these companies a controlled environment to be able to test this stuff,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said during the event. DeSantis said Tesla, Waymo and BEEP are among companies working with the state at the facility. He said Tesla’s Cybercab is being tested at SunTrax and described a Waymo vehicle displayed at the event. Officials emphasized safety as autonomous technology develops. “You don’t want to be in an autonomous vehicle, and it drives you into a ditch,” DeSantis said. “That would not be good.” RELATED COVERAGE | Florida to launch air taxi service by end of 2026 FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said human behavior is a major contributing factor in fatal crashes on Florida’s highway system. He said autonomous technology has the potential to reduce that risk. Perdue also announced SunTrax Air, describing it as the nation’s first aerial test track. He said the site includes two new vertiports — areas designed for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. According to Perdue, the facility will allow companies to test aircraft, software, air traffic control systems, security screening and other technology tied to advanced air mobility. “We’re at the age of flying cars,” Perdue said. He said two aircraft at the event are undergoing Federal Aviation Administration certification and are flying in controlled environments. Perdue said the vehicles would