Latest news with #ID.BuzzAD
DW
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- DW
Autonomous driving: VW wants to overtake Tesla – DW
VW will launch the autonomous ID. Buzz AD in 2026. With that, it's hoping to overtake Tesla in the robotaxi race. Other competitors are also getting involved in this billion-dollar market. In Germany, there are many people who cannot manage without a car, particularly in the countryside, where public transport networks can be patchy, nonexistent even. Transitioning to electric, or e-, vehicles will not solve the transportation problem on its own. Privately owned electric cars may not run on oil, but they still consume resources, take up space, require roads and parking areas. But much could be resolved if people were able to switch to using robot taxis. For years now, countries like the USA and China have been running pilot projects with self-driving cars and driverless vans. These vehicles are also being tested in Germany, but so far no approvals have been issued for so-called level 4 systems — completely autonomous cars with no driver at the wheel. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) says that legally it is possible, in Germany and in the EU as a whole, but until now the general introduction of these vehicles still seems a long way off. Robotaxis from 2026, by VW But now VW has surged ahead with a driverless e-van: the ID. Buzz AD ("autonomous driving"), a level 4 vehicle that drives set routes. Europe's biggest car manufacturer presented the production version of the self-driving electric van in Hamburg on June 17. It is scheduled to go on the road in 2026. Initially, it will only be deployed in Hamburg and Los Angeles, but the intention is for it then to be rolled out more widely. "This certainly has not been set up as a small series production," says Christian Senger, a member of the board of management of VW Commercial Vehicles, who is responsible for its autonomous driving sector. The vans will be manufactured in very large numbers. The Hannover VW factory is set to produce more than 10,000 commercial vehicles. "We believe we can be the leading supplier in Europe," Senger says. VW already has a buyer, the Uber taxi service company. The two firms signed an agreement in April for cooperation in the US. According to Senger, Uber plans to purchase up to 10,000 VW e-vans over the next ten years. The ID Buzz AD has 13 cameras, five radars, and nine LiDARs (pictured), which use lasers to calculate distance Image: Lukas Barth/Reuters Overtaking Tesla VW has jumped ahead of Tesla with its ID. Buzz AD presentation. Earlier this month, Elon Musk "tentatively" announced June 22 — this Sunday — as the date for the launch of his own robotaxi, based on the Model Y SUV, but this is still unconfirmed. "We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift," Musk said at the time on his social media platform, X. Tesla's initial plans are for just 10 to 20 Model Y SUVs to operate as public robotaxis in one area of Austin, Texas, the city where Tesla is headquartered. But, as usual, Musk is thinking big. In an interview with US broadcaster CBS, he announced that there would be some 1,000 Tesla robotaxis on the road within months, and hundreds of thousands by the end of 2026. Musk also announced in May that several US cities would be approved for autonomous driving for private Tesla owners before the end of the year. This promise is not new: Back in 2017, he promised that this function would be activated within two years. Waymo: Google robotaxis miles ahead Right now, Google affiliate Waymo is streets ahead when it comes to autonomous driving. Waymo's driverless robotaxis are already on the road in several US cities, making more than 250,000 paid journeys with passengers every week. The vehicles are mostly converted electric cars made by Jaguar. Waymo also announced in May that it planned to more than double the number of vehicles by the end of 2026. Tech giant Amazon is also in the running for the emerging market in autonomous driving. Amazon's robotaxi company Zoox plans to put cars on the road in Las Vegas and San Francisco without steering wheels or pedals, with space for up to four passengers. Competition from China China is also looking to solve its transport problems through autonomous driving. The Google rival Baidu runs a fleet of around 1,000 Apollo Go robotaxis, which completed more than 1.4 million journeys in the first quarter of this year. The Chinese company has a fleet of more than 300 robotaxis, and it wants to increase this to as many as 3,000 by the end of next year. WeRide, meanwhile, has around 400 vehicles. Autonomous vehicles are already on the road in China, like this Apollo Go self-driving taxi Image: Johannes Neudecker/dpa/picture alliance Goldman Sachs estimates that by 2030 there will be about half a million robotaxis in service in more than 10 Chinese cities. In China, the question is no longer whether autonomous driving is possible, but how companies will make commercial use of the sector's rapid development. Projections for the future are very promising. The investment bank puts the total sales potential of the Chinese robotaxi sector at around $54 million (€47 million) this year but expects that figure to increase exponentially by 2035, to around $47 billion. VW focused on fleets, transport associations VW's new e-van is not aimed at private customers. Instead it hopes to supply business customers, fleet operators and transport associations, providing a package to include total software solutions, a booking app, fleet management and maintenance. In Hamburg, for example, the company has established cooperation with the local transport association, HVV. A declaration of intent has also been agreed with the Berlin transport authority, the BVG. VW hopes to gain approval to operate driverless cars in Europe and the US by the end of 2026. This would mean they would no longer need a safety driver, currently a mandatory requirement. VW says it would be the first such approval for level 4 autonomous driving in Europe. If level 4 self-driving vehicles are approved, a safety driver would no longer be required to sit behind the wheel Image: Lukas Barth/Reuters There is a catch though. VW's Senger does not expect the top dog of Germany's beleaguered auto industry to make any money, at least at first. In the long term, though, he explains that autonomous driving is the lucrative field of the future, one that promises to be much more profitable than the traditional automotive industry. "This is our big chance to establish a future opportunity for the VW Group," he says. The exact price has not yet been announced but the ID. Buzz AD is unlikely to come cheap. According to Senger, buyers will have to pay a low six-figure sum (in euros) per vehicle. Public funding is needed That means it's going to be expensive for transport companies. The Association of German Transport Companies or VDV, is calling for a nationally coordinated strategy of long-term financing, and a market launch supported by public funding, to establish the country's supremacy in this market. An autonomous shuttle bus in Germany, part of a pilot project that local public transport operators want to see more of Image: Swen Pförtner/dpa/picture alliance The current government's coalition agreement declares: "Germany is to become the leading market for autonomous driving, developing and co-financing model regions with the federal states." Ingo Wortmann from the VDV comments that start-up funding of around €3 billion is needed to take this idea from pilot project to standrad operating procedure. This article was originally published in German.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD robotaxi ready for sale from 2026
The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from: The production version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the German automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is an SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. Its autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors – 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars – to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch in 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: "With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably." Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike the regular ID. Buzz electric people mover, which is available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seat trim and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
a day ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD robotaxi ready for sale from 2026
The production-version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is a SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. It autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors — 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars — to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch for 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: 'With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike regular ID. Buzz models, which are available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seats and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. Supplied Credit: CarExpert There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage. MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID. Buzz
7NEWS
a day ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD robotaxi ready for sale from 2026
The production-version of the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD taxi has been unveiled, and the automaker is hoping to make it available for use in various markets across Europe and US from 2026. Developed by the Volkswagen Group's MOIA ride-sharing division, the ID. Buzz AD is a SAE Level 4 self-driving vehicle, meaning it drives itself by default, but there are controls for a human to use if the need arises. It autonomous driving technology is from Mobileye, which uses an array of 27 sensors — 13 cameras, nine LIDAR units, and five radars — to generate a 360-degree view. This is married to MOIA's own Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform that manages the robotaxi fleet, deals with passenger assistance and safety issues, and integrates into existing booking apps. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Volkswagen is looking to sell MOIA's service platform and fleets of the ID. Buzz AD to municipalities, public transport agencies, and private operators looking to get into the ride-sharing and robotaxi scene. This approach contrasts quite starkly with Google's Waymo division, which is developing its own self-driving technology, and running its own robotaxi services in a growing number of cities in the US. Volkswagen and MOIA have been developing the ID. Buzz AD since 2021, and the company originally targeted a launch for 2025. The company has been testing its robotaxi services in two German cities, with the public able to book rides in Hanover and Hamburg. In a prepared statement, Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: 'With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities, and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably.' Aside from the proliferation of cameras and sensors, the body work of the ID. Buzz is untouched. The production vehicle's sensor pods, especially the roof-mounted unit, are much more slickly integrated into the body compared to the prototype models. Unlike regular ID. Buzz models, which are available in either a two-row five-seat or three-row seven-seat configurations, the AD has a unique interior layout with two narrow seats in the second row, and a large passageway leading to two larger seats in the third row. Each row of seats has SOS emergency stop and support call buttons, a USB-C charging port, and start/stop button. Vinyl seats and a hard floor should make the ID. Buzz robotaxi easy to clean. There's also a driver's seat up front. If self-driving without human oversight is allowed by local regulations, the driver's seat can be pushed and tilted forward, and the steering wheel covered. Regardless, the space normally occupied by the front passenger's seat is replaced by a bounded cargo tray suitable for various types of luggage.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
VW to sell ID. Buzz robotaxis next year, taking on Tesla and Waymo
Volkswagen-backed autonomous tech company MOIA is offering up a robotaxi of its own, which both mobility operators and regular people can buy next year. Using VW's (VWAGY) electric ID. Buzz as a donor vehicle, MOIA says it will create a 'turnkey solution' for those looking for an autonomous production vehicle, the company said from an event in Hamburg, Germany. MOIA's offering uses LiDAR, cameras, and radar combined with Mobileye's self-driving system and the company's own Autonomous Driving Mobility as a Service (AD MaaS) platform. MOIA said its AD MaaS software uses AI to manage fleets in real time and integrates into existing booking apps. In addition, the system meets key regulatory requirements for SAE Level 4 automated vehicles, MOIA said, using additional features like remote supervision and safe handling of emergency interventions on the streets. MOIA's all-in-one offering — car, self-driving software, and robotaxi platform — comes as Tesla (TSLA) prepares to begin its robotaxi test in Austin in a few days. 'Beginning in 2026, we will bring sustainable, autonomous mobility to large-scale deployment in Europe and the US, another milestone on our path to becoming a global technology driver in the automotive industry,' said Oliver Blume, Volkswagen Group CEO, in a statement. VW claims the 'MOIA Turnkey Solution' can be implemented by large commercial fleet operators, as well as individuals who want a fully autonomous solution for private use or business purposes. The ID. Buzz AD will be deployed on Uber's platform starting next year in Los Angeles. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long seen this as the holy grail of private vehicle ownership, the ability to deploy a vehicle for robotaxi use when the owner doesn't need it. VW believes the ID. Buzz is a strong choice for robotaxi use. It features an extended wheelbase and raised roof for added space, sliding electric doors for ease of entry, four separate seats, and storage space both up front and in the rear. 'The ID. Buzz AD is purpose-built for autonomous mobility services. It's a cabin designed entirely around passenger needs – and the realities of driverless ridepooling or ridehailing,' Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility said in a statement to Yahoo Finance. VW and MOIA did not say how much the vehicle would cost when it goes on sale. It is estimated that similar vehicles, like Waymo's (GOOG) bespoke Jaguar I-PACE, cost upwards of $100,000, though as one of the largest automakers in the world, VW may be able to save money since it owns the ID. Buzz platform and has advantages of scale. Waymo, the leader in the robotaxi space with 250,000 trips a week, announced it is expanding service in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and just revealed it is bringing service to New York City (but with a safety driver). And it's countering the cost issue by partnering with manufacturers like Toyota and China's Zeekr. The ride-hailing market in the US is already a big one and poised to explode. Goldman estimates the US market is worth approximately $58 billion currently, but could be worth more than $330 billion by 2030, with robotaxi-type services pushing the industry forward and reducing costs by — among other factors — not requiring a human driver. Pras Subramanian is the lead auto reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
