Subj : Forget Tesla's robotaxis this new VW ID Buzz will soon be the sl To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Jun 20 2025 19:45:15 Forget Tesla's robotaxis this new VW ID Buzz will soon be the sleekest self-driving ride on the roads Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2025 18:30:00 +0000 Description: Hitting the streets in 2026, VW's driverless ID Buzz offers space and style, without the need for a driver. FULL STORY ======================================================================Tesla says it begins limited launch of its robotaxi service later this month But VWs ID Buzz AD offers a turnkey autonomous solution to fleet operators Large scale deployment is due next year While Teslas share price remains intrinsically linked to the promise of a fully self-driving future, Volkswagen has been quietly but busily working on its own autonomous driving solution. Through its MOIA mobility company, Volkswagen has developed its first fully-autonomous production vehicle in the ID Buzz AD, which is designed to offer the complete package to those looking to launch autonomous services quickly, safely, and at scale, according to the marque. It comes at a time when Tesla is poised to launch its long-awaited and long-promised Model Y robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. However, critics have been quick to point out that the ride-hailing service will consist of only 10 cars, all of which will be geo-fenced and monitored by a remote teleoperator. A recent report by Bloomberg has caused further controversy among a number of Tesla commentators, as it claimed that Tesla is closer to vehicle autonomy than its peers, including Waymo. As a reminder, Waymo is operational in four major US cities, with a fully autonomous fleet that now consists of over 1,500 vehicles. (Image credit: Volkswagen/MOIA) Arguments aside, it looks like both Tesla and Waymo will have some stiff competition from one of Germanys largest automakers, as it will unleash its own fleet of stylish ID Buzz models onto the roads of Hamburg in 2026, with further European and US cities soon to follow. The vehicle is unique in that it's part of a fully connected 360-degree package, according to VW CEO Oliver Blume. It features Mobileyes self-driving system, complete with 27 sensors, including 13 cameras, nine LiDARs, and five radars. MOIAs turnkey solution also includes AI-driven software that can manage fleets in real time, assist passengers automatically, ensure safety, and integrate seamlessly into existing booking apps. Better still, the entire package meets key regulatory requirements for SAE Level 4 automated vehicles and MOIA also offers solutions for training and deployment of live operators, enabling remote control over large-scale fleets. Essentially, if you wanted to roll out an autonomous fleet of robot taxis in your local vicinity tomorrow, Volkswagens mobility-as-a-service company could provide all the tools you need and that's exciting news for punters looking for a driverless ride, too. Analysis: The robotaxis are taking over (Image credit: Tesla) There may still be some question marks over Elon Musks claims that his entire Tesla fleet could one day operate as an autonomous ride-hailing service, but there is no getting away from the fact that the technology is moving on at a pace. Waymo is still clearly leading the pack, with popular services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin already running. The company is also poised to take delivery of Hyundais first mass-produced autonomous Ioniq 5 model , which will speed up deployment further. In the UK, Uber recently announced that it will bring forward trials of its own self-driving fleet in London next year and Nissan is also ploughing ahead with its driverless services that it says could connect remote rural communities with larger towns. I have personally experienced Nissans most recent autonomous innovations and was blown away by the speed and confidence in which it tackled some very challenging, broken British roads. Despite all of the bluster, Teslas robotaxi technology still feels some way off, with the roll-out slated for later this month already looking like it will be delayed while Texas lawmakers pass some new legislation. Whats more, the fleet of 10 cars feels very much like the company is still in its very early testing phase, where key rivals already have more technologically-accomplished solutions ready to roll. You might also like Ive tried Nissans latest advanced driverless technology and it handles 60mph on rural roads better than most humans Inside Hyundais new sci-fi smart factory where you can order a car with your smartphone and drive it away in hours Tesla is secretly testing new versions of its Model S Plaid and Model Y Performance heres what to expect ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/forget-teslas- robotaxis-this-new-vw-id-buzz-will-soon-be-the-sleekest-self-driving-ride-on-t he-roads --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .