Volkswagen Group of America and Uber Technologies are teaming up to introduce thousands of autonomous ID Buzz vans to U.S. cities over the next decade, beginning with Los Angeles.
VW announced that testing will commence later this year, with a commercial rollout planned for 2026 through Uber’s platform in Los Angeles. During the early phases, human safety operators will accompany the autonomous vans to monitor and refine the system’s performance.
According to VW, a fleet of thousands of all-electric, fully autonomous ID Buzz vehicles is envisioned to be operational over the next ten years, offering a new level of mobility service to the public.
Deployment and Regulatory Approvals
The introduction of the autonomous fleet is contingent on gaining approval from federal, state, and municipal authorities. VW and Uber are preparing to navigate the necessary regulatory pathways to ensure a successful launch in compliance with all relevant standards.
Positioning Against Competitors
With this collaboration, VW and Uber aim to join companies like Waymo, which already operates more than 700 robotaxis across select U.S. markets. Meanwhile, General Motors’ Cruise division has withdrawn from the robotaxi sector to focus on advanced driver-assistance technologies. Tesla is also preparing to enter the space with its upcoming Cybercab designed for autonomous ride-hailing services.
MOIA’s Role and Strategic Vision
Volkswagen’s autonomous mobility brand, MOIA, will be responsible for delivering the necessary technology for this initiative. This includes the ID Buzz AD model and the software-driven system that will power the Uber autonomous fleet.
Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, stated, “Volkswagen is not just a car manufacturer – we are shaping the future of mobility, and our collaboration with Uber accelerates that vision.”
Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, added that the partnership will enable both companies to “unleash the potential of autonomous mobility” while helping to familiarize a wider audience with the ID Buzz in the years ahead.
