Over the next three years, VWGoA plans to grow its test fleet in Austin and also progressively expand testing operations to at least four more American cities. Building upon investments throughout this initial pilot, VWGoA anticipates a commercial launch of autonomous driving vehicles in Austin by 2026.
“We are thrilled to bring our exciting ID. Buzz vehicles to American roads”, said Pablo Di Si, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “Expanding Volkswagen Group’s global autonomous driving vehicle program to the United States marks an important milestone for us. In the future, we will tap into rising demand for new mobility services, and with our iconic ID. Buzz, we will also offer a truly captivating product to support transportation services American consumers can rely upon and trust.”
The start of VWGoA’s test program in the U.S. marks a further push for Volkswagen Group’s global autonomous driving vehicle research and development. VWGoA will lead the strategy and business development in the U.S., and has established a subsidiary named Volkswagen ADMT, to support the rollout of its autonomous driving vehicle program, with teams in Belmont, Calif. and Austin, Texas. The company plans to also employ team members who worked with Argo AI.
For the test fleet, VWGoA plans to leverage autonomous driving technology and ID. Buzz vehicles provided by the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand in Germany.
In the future, VWGoA aims to offer fleets of specially designed ID. Buzz AD vehicles as a comprehensive service including fleet management and remote guidance solutions to other leading companies in the mobility and transportation space, and establish long-term partnerships. VWGoA is not building a dedicated ride hailing or ride sharing service on its own at this time.
In Austin, VWGoA will use its growing test fleet of ID. Buzz AD vehicles to collect data through driven miles across a diversity of driving scenarios. Each of the initial SAE L4 ID. Buzz vehicles is outfitted with an autonomous driving technology platform developed by the global Volkswagen Group in partnership with Mobileye, which includes cameras, radar, and lidar technology. All vehicles will be staffed with supervising human drivers at all times throughout this initial test phase.
Source: Volkswagen