Volkswagen MOIA and Uber Begin Self-Driving Vehicle Tests in Los Angeles

Volkswagen's autonomous mobility subsidiary MOIA America has partnered with Uber to begin on-road testing of self-driving vehicles in Los Angeles. The companies deployed approximately 10 autonomous ID. Buzz minibuses for initial testing, with plans to expand to commercial rides with human safety operators by the end of 2026. The testing represents the first phase of a broader deployment plan that aims to offer fully driverless commercial service in Los Angeles by 2027. The ID. Buzz vehicles, which are electric minibuses based on Volkswagen's revival of its iconic microbus design, will operate on public roads as the companies work to validate their autonomous systems. MOIA America, Volkswagen's dedicated autonomous vehicle unit, has been developing self-driving technology in partnership with Mobileye. The collaboration with Uber provides a route to market for the robotaxi service, leveraging Uber's ride-hailing platform and customer base. Los Angeles joins a growing list of cities where autonomous vehicle companies are testing and deploying robotaxi services. The market has seen increased activity from Alphabet's Waymo, which operates commercial services in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, as well as Tesla's planned robotaxi deployments.