Volkswagen and Uber Technologies have announced a strategic partnership to deploy thousands of fully autonomous ID Buzz AD vehicles across multiple US markets over the next decade, starting in Los Angeles.
In a statement released on Thursday, April 24, the companies said that testing is expected to begin later this year. The vehicles won’t be completely autonomous at first, though. According to a joint statement from the firms, human operators will be on board “to help refine the technology and ensure safety.”
Integrated solution for autonomous driving, including ID. Buzz AD and a software-based system for Uber platform deployment will be provided by Volkswagen AG’s MOIA.
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the advancement of autonomous mobility and highlights both Volkswagen’s and Uber’s shared dedication to building the future of transportation,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. “We can’t wait to launch in Los Angeles late next year.”
Robotaxis are demonstrating that they can provide driverless services in some places as an accessible and contemporary kind of public transportation. Currently, the greatest commercial deployment is occurring in China, although testing is occurring globally, according to research.
At the moment, Waymo is the top player in the US. With 150,000 paid trips and one million miles of completely autonomous driving are made each week, according to the company.
Meanwhile, Tesla is developing robotaxis and a Robovan, a larger autonomous vehicle capable of transporting up to 20 passengers or cargo. The company has completed over 1,500 trips and 15,000 miles using its self-driving vehicles. Tesla plans to expand its supervised ride-hailing service to the public in Austin as early as June.
