Volkswagen subsidiary MOIA America and Uber begin testing self-driving minibuses in Los Angeles, the companies announced on Wednesdaythe latest step as they prepare to launch a robotaxi service by the end of 2026.
A year ago, MOIA America and Uber unveiled an ambitious plan to launch a commercial robotaxi service — using autonomous versions of Volkswagen’s electric identity. Buzz minivan — in many US cities over the next decade. Los Angeles is the first city on this list.
Trials will begin in the coming weeks with around 10 stand-alone IDs. Buzz vehicles in Los Angeles, according to the company. The production version of the driverless vehicle seats four people.
Paul DeLong, president of merchandising at MOIA America, called Los Angeles a natural market to introduce the company’s autonomous vehicles for driving experiences, “given its long history of shaping car culture and embracing new mobility technologies.”
Since last year’s announcement, MOIA America and Uber have established a joint facility in Los Angeles for day-to-day fleet operations. The test fleet is small for now, but Volkswagen says it will eventually scale to more than 100 autonomous IDs. Buzz vehicles. The vehicles will initially launch with a human safety operator on board. Driverless operations are expected to begin in 2027, the company said.
Sascha Meyer, the chief commercial officer of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, said this next step reflects the “strong momentum behind the strategy to bring autonomous mobility to the real world”.
The MOIA America moniker is a relatively new name for Volkswagen’s autonomous vehicle projects in the US, known as Volkswagen ADMT until early 2026. But the MOIA brand has been around for a while, since it was first launched by Volkswagen in 2018 at TechCrunch Disrupt London, and is best known in Europe, where the ride-pool car operates. Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Oslo. The name change is supposed to reflect the connection between the US and European entities.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, California
|
13-15 October 2026
MOIA America still has to navigate a lengthy regulatory process before it can develop a commercial robotaxi service — that is, driverless vehicles that charge people for rides — in California. The company will need permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which regulates the testing and development of autonomous vehicles in the state. A transfer permit from the California Public Utilities Commission will also be required.
Uber, meanwhile, has been hedging its bets on autonomous vehicles. The company has partnerships with 25 companies applying autonomous vehicle technology to delivery, drones, ride-hailing and trucking. In the US, its most visible partnership is with Waymo. But the company has taken its AV ambitions to other markets as well, closing deals with Chinese companies to launch robotics in Europe and the Middle East, as well as startups like UK-based Wayve.
Uber recently entered into an agreement with Rivian to purchase 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis ahead of a planned rollout in San Francisco and Miami in 2028. Under the agreement, Uber is making an initial investment of $300 million in Rivian.
