Volkswagen’s MOIA America and Uber have begun testing autonomous minibuses in Los Angeles, aiming to launch a robotaxi service by late 2026.
A year ago, the two companies announced plans for a commercial robotaxi service using autonomous electric ID. Buzz minivans in several U.S. cities, with Los Angeles being the first.
Testing is set to begin shortly with ten autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles in Los Angeles. The production version accommodates four passengers.
Paul DeLong of MOIA America considers Los Angeles a prime market for introducing autonomous vehicles, citing its automotive culture and openness to new mobility technologies.
MOIA America and Uber have established a joint operational facility in Los Angeles. Although the current test fleet is small, Volkswagen intends to expand to over 100 vehicles. Initial tests will have a human safety operator; fully driverless operations are anticipated in 2027.
Sascha Meyer of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility states that this step is part of advancing autonomous mobility towards real-world implementation.
MOIA America is the new U.S. branding for Volkswagen’s autonomous vehicle projects, previously known as Volkswagen ADMT. MOIA, launched in Europe in 2018, provides ride-pooling and tests autonomous tech in various cities. The branding aims to unify U.S. and European operations.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026
MOIA America must still complete a regulatory process to deploy a commercial robotaxi service in California, requiring permits from both the California DMV and the California Public Utilities Commission.
Meanwhile, Uber has formed partnerships with 25 companies for various autonomous technology applications, including a notable U.S. partnership with Waymo. Internationally, Uber is partnering with Chinese firms and the U.K.’s Wayve to launch robotaxis in Europe, the Middle East, and Tokyo.
Uber has recently agreed with Rivian to purchase 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis for deployment in San Francisco and Miami by 2028, including a $300 million initial investment in Rivian.