by Uber will offer rides in the autonomous Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD in the United States. The service is planned to launch in Los Angeles in 2026 and expand to other cities. If all goes well, thousands of autonomous vans could appear across the country. Uber’s entry into the world of autonomous driving ended in tragedy when in 2018 their specially equipped Volvo XC90 was involved in an accident.
After that, the company halted work on self-driving cars. Now Uber and Volkswagen have announced a long-term strategic partnership that involves having autonomous ID. Buzz vans on the taxi-hailing platform. Rides will be available in several U.S. markets, starting with Los Angeles.
Testing of the ID. Buzz vehicle will begin later this year, and commercial rides are planned to start as early as 2026. Initially, the vans will have “human operators” on board to help refine the technology and ensure safety. However, once the technology is improved and all parties agree, “safety drivers” will become a thing of the past. If everything goes according to plan, the companies will deploy thousands of ID.
Buzz AD vehicles over the next decade. This is an important step that will help fill the void left by ____. Although testing with Uber is set to begin later this year, Volkswagen has been working on the ID. Buzz AD for years. In 2022, they showcased a prototype with 14 cameras, 11 radar sensors, and five LiDAR sensors.
Volkswagen’s mobility brand MOIA will provide the ID. Buzz AD and autonomous driving software for this partnership. In turn, Uber seems to be taking care of everything else. Many questions remain unanswered, but Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi noted: “This collaboration is an important step in the development of autonomous mobility and highlights both Volkswagen’s and Uber’s shared commitment to building the future of transportation. We look forward to the launch in Los Angeles by the end of next year.”
