Volkswagen’s MOIA and Uber Begin Testing Self-Driving ID. Buzz Minibuses in Los Angeles
April 8, 2026 - 8:31 pm
In short:
Volkswagen’s autonomous mobility subsidiary MOIA America and Uber have begun on-road testing in Los Angeles with roughly 10 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles. This marks the opening phase of a deployment plan that aims to offer commercial rides with human safety operators by the end of 2026, and fully driverless service in 2027. Los Angeles is the first US city in what the companies describe as a multi-city rollout over the coming decade.
A year after Volkswagen and Uber announced their partnership, the first ID. Buzz AD (autonomous vehicle) vehicles are now on the streets of Los Angeles. MOIA America plans to eventually deploy more than 100 vehicles in the city for real-world validation before commercial service begins. Throughout this current phase, every vehicle will carry a human safety operator, a standard requirement as the company navigates California’s complex regulatory landscape prior to charging passengers for rides.
What the Vehicle Is
The ID. Buzz AD is distinct from the consumer-facing version of the ID. Buzz that Volkswagen sells in showrooms. It's been equipped with a 27-sensor suite comprising:
- 13 cameras
- 9 LiDAR units
- 5 radars
All sensor data is processed by a Mobileye-sourced computer running the Mobileye Drive platform. This partnership, which replaced an earlier arrangement with Argo AI after Volkswagen wrote off that investment in 2022, gives Mobileye responsibility for software, hardware components, and digital mapping crucial to the vehicle’s decision-making.
Credit: Moia
Volkswagen Autonomous Car
The production model seats up to six passengers and features powered sliding doors, making it more practical for group ride-hailing services, which is MOIA’s focus. The vehicle was unveiled in series production configuration in 2025 and is manufactured by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles at its Hanover plant.
The Road to Commercial Service
Before MOIA America can start charging passengers in California, it must clear two separate regulatory hurdles:
- Commercial deployment permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Ride-hailing permit from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Both are significant challenges. The current testing phase, involving safety operators in every vehicle, serves as both a technical validation and a demonstration for regulators to scrutinize before granting broader permissions.
MOIA America aims to expand its test fleet to over 100 vehicles with safety operators by the time commercial service launches at the end of 2026. A fully driverless service is planned for 2027.