Photo: Volkswagen
Volkswagen will start testing its autonomous-driving technology developed in partnership with Mobileye in the US. The 10 Volkswagen ID. Buzz minivans assigned to the test fleet will start operations in Tesla's yard in Austin, Texas.
The rivalries in the automotive industry are nothing new, but the one between Tesla and Volkswagen is one of the fiercest. Despite exchanging niceties, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess must've hated each other's guts. When Tesla announced its first European gigafactory, it did not choose a low-income country from Eastern Europe to minimize costs. It built it right in the heart of Germany, near Berlin. Diess is no longer Volkswagen's CEO, but things haven't changed much since Oliver Blume's arrival.
Volkswagen felt the need to one-up Tesla, and launching its US autonomous driving program was the perfect opportunity. Volkswagen could've chosen to start testing its self-driving technology in California, like every other autonomous-driving company. Instead, it picked Austin, Texas, as the bridgehead. That's where Tesla's new headquarters are located and where it built its most advanced gigafactory in the US. From there, Volkswagen will expand testing operations to at least four more US cities over the next three years.
Volkswagen will deploy 10 ID. Buzz electric minivans equipped with Mobileye technology. Mobileye was also the partner Tesla chose to start its self-driving efforts, although the two companies parted ways in 2016. This connection brings up another interesting point in the Tesla-Volkswagen rivalry. Since Mobileye is betting on vision-based autonomous driving, just like Tesla, this means that Volkswagen will also adopt a similar solution to self-driving.
For now, though, the ID. Buzz vehicles are equipped with a full sensor suite, including cameras, radar, and lidar sensors. Human drivers will supervise them at all times throughout this initial test phase. Volkswagen established a subsidiary named Volkswagen ADMT (from Autonomous Driving Mobility & Transport) to support the rollout of its autonomous driving vehicle program, with teams in Belmont, California, and Austin, Texas.
Volkswagen said it wants to hire autonomous driving experts and engineers from Argo AI, a startup it helped found together with Ford. After Volkswagen withdrew from the partnership, Ford incorporated Argo AI into its corporate structure. Volkswagen aims for SAE Level 4 autonomous driving, similar to Cruise and Waymo. In the initial testing phase, its ID. Buzz autonomous fleet will collect data through driven miles across a diversity of driving scenarios.
Volkswagen wants to start offering commercial autonomous-driving services starting in 2026. It also intends to provide fleet management and remote guidance solutions for companies in the mobility and transportation space. Still, Volkswagen does not establish a dedicated ride-hailing or ride-sharing service on its own at this time. Instead, it sees itself as a solution provider for other companies, offering autonomous vehicles and management solutions.
Volkswagen felt the need to one-up Tesla, and launching its US autonomous driving program was the perfect opportunity. Volkswagen could've chosen to start testing its self-driving technology in California, like every other autonomous-driving company. Instead, it picked Austin, Texas, as the bridgehead. That's where Tesla's new headquarters are located and where it built its most advanced gigafactory in the US. From there, Volkswagen will expand testing operations to at least four more US cities over the next three years.
Volkswagen will deploy 10 ID. Buzz electric minivans equipped with Mobileye technology. Mobileye was also the partner Tesla chose to start its self-driving efforts, although the two companies parted ways in 2016. This connection brings up another interesting point in the Tesla-Volkswagen rivalry. Since Mobileye is betting on vision-based autonomous driving, just like Tesla, this means that Volkswagen will also adopt a similar solution to self-driving.
For now, though, the ID. Buzz vehicles are equipped with a full sensor suite, including cameras, radar, and lidar sensors. Human drivers will supervise them at all times throughout this initial test phase. Volkswagen established a subsidiary named Volkswagen ADMT (from Autonomous Driving Mobility & Transport) to support the rollout of its autonomous driving vehicle program, with teams in Belmont, California, and Austin, Texas.
Volkswagen said it wants to hire autonomous driving experts and engineers from Argo AI, a startup it helped found together with Ford. After Volkswagen withdrew from the partnership, Ford incorporated Argo AI into its corporate structure. Volkswagen aims for SAE Level 4 autonomous driving, similar to Cruise and Waymo. In the initial testing phase, its ID. Buzz autonomous fleet will collect data through driven miles across a diversity of driving scenarios.
Volkswagen wants to start offering commercial autonomous-driving services starting in 2026. It also intends to provide fleet management and remote guidance solutions for companies in the mobility and transportation space. Still, Volkswagen does not establish a dedicated ride-hailing or ride-sharing service on its own at this time. Instead, it sees itself as a solution provider for other companies, offering autonomous vehicles and management solutions.
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