Volkswagen isn’t typically mentioned in conversations about robotaxis, but the German auto giant has been quietly working on its own self-driving technology for over a decade. And now the company is ready to deploy its first autonomous vehicles on Uber’s ridehailing platform, starting with a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles in 2026.
The vehicles will be VW’s ID Buzz electric minivans equipped with self-driving sensors and software developed by subsidiary Moia. The long-wheel base version of the Buzz can seat at least seven passengers, so VW is clearly trying to maximize its ridehailing potential. The goal is to ultimately have “thousands” of vehicles operating in multiple US cities over the next decade, the automaker says.
VW will begin testing the service later this year, using vehicles with safety drivers behind the wheel. The company says it will only proceed with fully driverless operations after receiving the necessary permits and clearance from regulatory agencies.
VW will begin testing the service later this year, using vehicles with safety drivers behind the wheel.
VW has been testing its self-driving technology in the US for a number of years. It deployed autonomous Buzz vehicles in Austin, Texas, in 2023, after a number of years testing them in Germany. The vehicles it tested in Austin use technology developed by Mobileye, the driver-assist sensor and software company owned by Intel, as well as sensors like cameras, radar, and lidar.
VW has said that it will put the vans in service as a ridesharing fleet under its subsidiary Moia, which has been operating a fleet of electric vehicles as part of its “ride-pooling” service in Hamburg since 2017. VW’s autonomous driving software is developed by another subsidiary, Cariad, which has gone through numerous leadership shakeups in the past year.
VW has dabbled in autonomous driving for years — but not without setbacks. VW has in the past partnered with self-driving startups like Aurora and Argo, the latter of which was forced to shut down after the automaker, along with Ford, pulled its funding.
“Volkswagen is not just a car manufacturer—we are shaping the future of mobility, and our collaboration with Uber accelerates that vision,” said Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, in a statement. “What really sets us apart is our ability to combine the best of both worlds—high-volume manufacturing expertise with cutting-edge technology and a deep understanding of urban mobility needs.”
Meanwhile, Uber has been on a streak of striking deals with AV operators as it seeks to become a one-stop shop for robotaxis and autonomous delivery vehicles of all brands. In addition to VW, Uber has partnerships with Waymo, Motional, Avride, and WeRide for self-driving cars, and Serve, Cartken, and Nuro for delivery robots.
