Fleet of autonomous Volkswagen ID.Buzz EVs hits the road in Germany

15 July 2023

Autonomous vehicles are no longer a thing of the future. They are here, they are now, and the manufacturers want us to believe they are taking the automotive world by storm. Volkswagen has joined this autonomous revolution, giving a new spin to its ID.Buzz electric vans. These self-driving vehicles will transport real passengers, including government officials, on the roads of Germany for the first time.

In May, Volkswagen's autonomous ambitions came to the fore with the announcement of a partnership between MOIA, Volkswagen's European rideshare arm, and Apex.AI. This partnership is aimed at creating a passenger management system for the ID.Buzz fleet of electric vans. MOIA, working with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles since 2021, launched the pilot project for these self-driving rides in Germany, with a global expansion planned for the near future.

Munich was the starting point for this autonomous journey, followed by the launch of a US pilot program in Austin, Texas. While Munich continues to be the hub of VW's robotaxi operations in Europe, Austin is shaping up as the US hub for the automotive group. Now, with these autonomous vans ready to transport passengers in Munich, it's not long before other cities experience the push for autonomous vehicle technology.

What's unique about this initiative is that Volkswagen is on the brink of achieving the 'production readiness' of its autonomous EV fleet under the MOIA brand. It's not just about transporting passengers; it's about analyzing data, refining technology, and preparing for commercial operations. The ID.Buzz vans are equipped to handle Level 4 autonomy as per the SAE standards, and the insights gleaned from their operations in urban centers like Munich and Austin will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of transportation.

While MOIA will be the first to use the ID.Buzz autonomous vehicles, the strategy in the US is slightly different. Volkswagen plans to collaborate with "external companies from the mobility and transport sector," essentially outsourcing operations outside its own umbrella. The autonomous vehicle program's expansion to North America is a big step forward in Volkswagen's roadmap and a commitment to adapting and refining the technology to American roads.

In the coming weeks, we expect to see more autonomous rides in Munich and an expansion of operations in the US. So, what does this mean? It means the future of transportation is autonomous - whether we like it or not. It means Volkswagen is pushing forward for an autonomous revolution. And - according to the company - it means passengers, including government officials, are ready to trust this technology. That last statement feels like a bit of a stretch - sure, people are curious. But ready? The latest protests in San Francisco paint quite a different picture.

Via