Volkswagen subsidiary MOIA America and Uber have begun testing autonomous microbuses in Los Angeles. This marks the first step in their plan to launch a commercial robotaxi service by late 2026, using electric ID.Buzz minivans.

The testing phase will see around 10 self-driving vehicles hit LA's roads within weeks. Each production vehicle seats four passengers and will initially be accompanied by human safety operators before transitioning fully autonomous in 2027.

Paul DeLong, president of commercialization at MOIA America, sees Los Angeles as a natural market for introducing autonomous vehicles due to its long history of embracing new mobility technologies.

The project is part of Volkswagen’s broader initiative, previously known as Volkswagen ADMT, which has been operating in Europe since 2018. The name change reflects the company's strategy to connect U.S. and European entities. MOIA America will still need regulatory approvals from California before deploying its services commercially.

Meanwhile, Uber is diversifying its autonomous vehicle portfolio with partnerships across multiple sectors and regions, including a deal with Rivian for 10,000 autonomous vehicles in San Francisco and Miami by 2028.