Volkswagen begins testing its self-driving microbuses in Los Angeles ahead of a launch with Uber

Volkswagen subsidiary MOIA America and Uber have begun testing autonomous microbuses in Los Angeles, the companies announced Wednesday, the latest step as they prepare to launch a robotaxi service in late 2026.

Last year, MOIA America and Uber unveiled a powerful plan to launch a commercial robot service – using autonomous versions of Volkswagen’s electric vehicle. Buzz minivan – in many US cities for the next decade. Los Angeles is the first city on that list.

Testing will begin in the next few weeks with about 10 independent IDs. Buzz Cars in Los Angeles, according to the company. The production version of the driverless car seats four people.

Paul DeLong, president of commercial at MOIA America, called Los Angeles a natural market to launch the company’s ride-hailing autonomous vehicles, “given its long history of shaping automotive culture and embracing new mobility technologies.”

Since last year’s announcement, MOIA America and Uber have established a joint location in Los Angeles to run the fleet’s day-to-day operations. The test fleet is small for now, but Volkswagen says it will eventually reach more than 100 autonomous IDs. Buzz Cars. Cars will be introduced first with people working for safety. Driverless operation is expected to begin in 2027, the company said.

Sascha Meyer, chief commercial officer at Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, said the next step shows “strong strategic momentum to bring autonomy into real-world operation.”

The MOIA America name is a relatively new brand for Volkswagen’s autonomous vehicle programs in the US, known as Volkswagen ADMT until early 2026. But the MOIA brand has been around for a long time, since it was first presented by Volkswagen in 2018 at TechCrunch Disrupt London, and they are well known in Europe, where they use car service, auto tech and Bernburg. Munich, Oslo. The name change should reflect the connection between the US and Europe.

MOIA America still has to navigate a lengthy regulatory process before it can roll out commercial robot service — meaning self-driving cars that charge people for rides — in California. The company will need permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which regulates autonomous vehicle testing and deployment in the state. It will also require a permit to ride from the California Public Utilities Commission.

Uber, meanwhile, has spread its bets on autonomous vehicles. The company has partnerships with 25 companies that use autonomous vehicle technology for delivery, drones, ride-hailing, and trucks. In the US, its most visible partnership is Waymo. But the company has taken its AV ambitions to other markets, closing deals with Chinese companies to introduce robotaxis in Europe and the Middle East, as well as startups like UK-based Wayve.

Uber recently struck a deal with Rivian to buy 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robots ahead of a planned rollout in San Francisco and Miami in 2028. Under the deal, Uber made an initial investment of $300 million in Rivian.