Volkswagen’s MOIA America, in collaboration with Uber, is set to kick off testing of autonomous microbuses in Los Angeles as part of their strategy to launch a robotaxi service by the end of 2026. This initiative follows their announcement last year to deploy a fleet of self-driving electric ID. Buzz minivans in several U.S. cities over the next decade, with Los Angeles being the first target.
In the upcoming weeks, around 10 of these autonomous vehicles, which can accommodate four passengers, will begin testing in the city. Paul DeLong, MOIA America’s president of commercialization, noted that Los Angeles is an ideal location for introducing these autonomous services, given its rich automotive culture and openness to innovative transport technologies.
Since the initial announcement, the company has established a joint facility in Los Angeles to manage day-to-day fleet operations. Although current testing involves a small fleet, Volkswagen plans to expand this to over 100 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles. Initially, these vehicles will have a human safety operator onboard, with fully driverless operations expected to commence in 2027.
Sascha Meyer, Volkswagen’s chief commercial officer for Autonomous Mobility, spoke about the project’s significant momentum and its focus on integrating autonomous mobility into everyday use. The name MOIA America marks a new chapter for Volkswagen’s U.S. autonomous vehicle initiatives, which were previously branded as Volkswagen ADMT. The MOIA brand, launched in 2018 at a European tech event, is well-known in Europe for its ride-pooling service and autonomous technology trials in various cities.
However, before MOIA America can roll out a commercial robotaxi service in California, it must navigate a complex regulatory landscape. This includes obtaining the necessary permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles for testing and deployment and securing a ride-hailing permit from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Meanwhile, Uber is diversifying its approach to autonomous vehicles through partnerships with 25 companies across different sectors like delivery and trucking. Notably, it has a significant partnership with Waymo and is expanding its autonomous vehicle ambitions into global markets, including recent agreements with Chinese firms for robotaxi services.
Furthermore, Uber has recently forged a deal with Rivian to acquire 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis, with a planned rollout in San Francisco and Miami by 2028. This partnership includes an initial investment of $300 million in Rivian, highlighting Uber’s commitment to integrating autonomous technologies into its service platforms.
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