Volkswagen's ID Buzz EVs to Begin Autonomous Testing in Austin, Texas

Volkswagen will begin testing autonomous vehicles in the US, starting with driverless versions of its ID Buzz electric microbus. The fleet will be tested on public roads in Austin, Texas, with the aim of launching a robotaxi service in 2026. VW had originally planned to use technology from Argo AI, but after pulling funding, it is now developing the hardware and software in-house, along with partner Mobileye. The initial fleet of 10 ID Buzz microbuses will be equipped with autonomous driving software and sensors, with a trained safety driver behind the wheel. VW's autonomous driving software is developed by subsidiary Cariad.