Volkswagen and Uber begin autonomous microbus testing in Los Angeles

Volkswagen subsidiary MOIA America and Uber have started testing autonomous microbuses in Los Angeles, marking the first city in their planned U.S. expansion. The testing will start in the next few weeks with about 10 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles. These electric minivans, which seat four people in their production version, will initially operate with a human safety operator on board. The companies are preparing to launch a commercial robotaxi service by late 2026, following up on a joint facility they established in Los Angeles for day-to-day fleet operations.

Volkswagen expects the fleet to eventually scale to more than 100 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles, with driverless operations expected to begin in 2027. Sascha Meyer, the chief commercial officer for Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, stated that this phase reflects “strong momentum behind the strategy to bring autonomous mobility into real-world operation.” MOIA America, which operated under the name Volkswagen ADMT until early 2026, shares its branding with Volkswagen’s European ride-pooling and autonomous testing operations in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Oslo. The MOIA brand was originally launched by Volkswagen in 2018 at TechCrunch Disrupt London. Paul DeLong, president of commercialization at MOIA America, noted that Los Angeles is a natural market for the rollout due to its history of shaping car culture and adopting new mobility technologies.

To deploy a commercial robotaxi service that charges passengers for rides in California, MOIA America must secure permits from two state regulators: the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which oversees autonomous vehicle testing and deployment, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which regulates ride-hailing permits.

Meanwhile, Uber is continuing to diversify its autonomous vehicle integrations. The ride-hailing giant currently holds partnerships with 25 companies across delivery, drones, ride-hailing, and trucking. These partnerships include:

• A U.S. partnership with Waymo.
• Agreements with Chinese companies to launch robotaxis in Europe and the Middle East.
• Partnerships with startups such as the U.K.-based Wayve.
• A deal with Rivian to purchase 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis for a planned 2028 rollout in San Francisco and Miami, backed by an initial $300 million investment from Uber.

Why it matters

This partnership represents a key step in Volkswagen’s U.S. autonomous strategy, testing the viability of the ID. Buzz platform in a major market ahead of a planned commercial rollout by late 2026.