Uber has chosen the VW ID. Buzz as its new autopilot car - launch expected in Los Angeles
Volkswagen and Uber have announced a strategic partnership that will see thousands of fully autonomous electric Volkswagen ID minivans in several U.S. cities over the next decade. Buzz AD.
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The first city to begin operating such vehicles will be Los Angeles. Trials are scheduled to begin by the end of 2025, with the launch of commercial transport expected in 2026.
In the first stages, operators will be in the cars to monitor the operation of the systems. Commercial operation will only begin once all necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained.
Volkswagen's partner in the project is MOIA, a division specialising in autonomous mobility solutions. MOIA will provide both the ID. Buzz AD, as well as the software that will allow the integration of unmanned cars into the Uber platform.
Volkswagen executives emphasise that the alliance with Uber is a logical step in the development of a strategy to create new forms of urban mobility. According to Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, the company combines expertise in mass car manufacturing with advanced technology and a deep understanding of the needs of cities.
The electric car itself, the ID. Buzz AD was unveiled back in 2021. Its trials began in Munich, with the programme later extended to Hamburg. The current version, developed together with Mobileye, complies with the SAE Level 4 automation level. Equipment includes 13 cameras, nine lidars and five radars, as well as redundant braking, steering and power management systems.
Despite public interest, the ID. Buzz remains a rarity on U.S. roads for now. Volkswagen sold 1,162 units in 2024 and 1,901 units were delivered in the first quarter of 2025.
Source: Volkswagen
