Volkswagen and Uber begin testing autonomous ID. Buzz minibuses in Los Angeles

Volkswagen's autonomous mobility subsidiary, MOIA America, and Uber have begun on-road testing of about 10 self-driving ID. Buzz minibuses in Los Angeles, marking the first phase of a planned robotaxi service set to launch commercially by late 2026 with human safety operators onboard and fully driverless operations in 2027.^[1][2][3]

This testing follows a strategic partnership announced a year ago between Volkswagen and Uber, aimed at deploying thousands of autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles across multiple U.S. cities over the next decade. Los Angeles was selected as the initial testing ground due to its history of embracing new mobility technologies, according to Paul DeLong, president of commercialization at MOIA America.^[1][2] The companies have established a joint facility in the city for fleet operations, with plans to scale the test fleet to more than 100 vehicles for real-world validation before charging passengers.^[1][2]

The ID. Buzz AD vehicles differ from consumer models, equipped with a 27-sensor suite including 13 cameras, nine LiDAR units, and five radars, all processed by a Mobileye computer running the Mobileye Drive platform. This setup replaced an earlier deal with Argo AI after Volkswagen ended that investment in 2022.^[1] Sascha Meyer, Chief Commercial Officer for Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, described the effort as a key step toward scalable driverless ride-hailing, combining MOIA's technology with Uber's rider platform.^[4] Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, echoed this, noting it sets the foundation for broader rollout.^[4]

Regulatory hurdles remain significant, particularly in California, where human safety operators are required during testing and initial commercial phases until approvals allow unsupervised operations.^[1][2] All steps depend on securing necessary permissions, a process MOIA is navigating methodically.

This development positions Volkswagen as a supplier of autonomous vehicles to platforms like Uber, contrasting with competitors like Waymo, which is expanding in U.S. cities and eyeing London by late 2026, or Europe's Verne, which just launched its first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb with safety drivers.[2 from cluster]^[6] In the U.S., it intensifies competition amid Tesla's planned Austin tests and Zoox's manufacturing push.^[6]

Los Angeles riders stand to gain convenient, electric autonomous rides via the Uber app, potentially reducing traffic congestion and emissions in a car-centric city. The multi-city expansion could affect urban mobility nationwide, benefiting passengers while challenging traditional taxi and rideshare drivers.

Next steps include expanding the LA fleet for validation, followed by commercial service later this year with operators, and driverless rides in 2027 if regulators approve. MOIA and Uber aim to replicate this in other markets, leveraging the ID. Buzz's capacity for up to seven passengers and accessibility features.^[3][5]