Volkswagen will initially test its autonomous driving tech in Texas.
As part of its future expansion strategy into more US cities, Volkswagen has announced its plans to conduct tests on self-driving microbuses in Austin, Texas. The brand will utilize the autonomous technology developed by Mobileye to operate a fleet of ten all-electric ID. Buzz vehicles. These vehicles will mark Volkswagen's first venture into testing self-driving cars in the US.
This move follows the termination of a joint project between Volkswagen, Ford, and self-driving car startup Argo, which aimed to introduce robotaxi services in several American and European cities. The project's discontinuation cast a shadow over the progress of autonomous vehicle initiatives.
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Before partnering with Mobileye, VW had collaborated with Argo on the same project, which aims to deploy robotaxis across the US by 2026.
Volkswagen Group of America will oversee this initiative, while a new subsidiary called Volkswagen ADMT (Autonomous Driving, Mobility, and Transport) has been established. This subsidiary will operate in Austin, Texas, and Belmont, California, with the inclusion of former Argo engineers within its teams.
During the initial testing phase, the self-driving buses will operate within a defined geofenced area in Austin, primarily covering the East and downtown regions of the city. However, Volkswagen plans to expand beyond these boundaries over time.
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Austin was chosen as the testing location due to its reputation as an innovation hub. Each autonomous taxi, previously tested in Germany, will be equipped with a trained safety driver. Although initially not accessible to the public, VW intends to enter the taxi and delivery market in the future.
“Expanding our autonomous vehicle program to the North American Region is the next step in our global strategic roadmap, and the result of a long-term collaborative investment,” said Christian Senger, a member of the board of management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “Moving into this next phase will help us test, validate and refine technology, bring us closer to establishing commercially available transportation offerings and eventually grow the diverse mobility portfolio for the Volkswagen Group.”
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Keyword: Self-Driving VW ID. Buzz Will Start Testing In The US