Volkswagen has a robot Buzz.
I'm pretty sure that's a Transformers character...
Quite possibly, but not in this specific case. The robot Buzz we're talking about here is Volkswagen's self-driving ID. Buzz, designed and engineered by VW's 'MOIA' autonomous driving subsidiary.
So, VW is going to start operating a robotic car fleet?
Not quite, although to an extent it already does - MOIA has been testing autonomous ride-hailing cars, including this ID. Buzz and a van converted into a minibus, on the streets of Hamburg for the past couple of years.
However, the ID. Buzz AD (Autonomous Drive), to give this robot Buzz its full and correct name, isn't really designed for Volkswagen itself to operate, but rather has been created so that it can be bought and used by ride-hailing and mobility service operators.
So, the likes of Uber and Lyft?
Precisely, but not just them - it's conceivable that city, state and national public transport operators could also buy fleets of the ID. Buzz AD. Volkswagen has previously said that it doesn't see autonomous service vehicles such as the ID. Buzz AD as a replacement for public transport (a criticism often thrown at potential autonomous driving services) but as a support for bigger train, bus and tram networks, covering areas that those services find it harder to reach, and acting as feeder vehicles for the big public transport hubs.
It's not just about the cars, though - VW and MOIA can also provide operators with a complete mobility solution, from the cars to the software that they need to operate them.
“With our fully autonomous complete solution, we are creating a mobility offering that is unique in this form: cities, municipalities and fleet operators can provide autonomous mobility for all simply and reliably. Our driverless ID. Buzz shuttles are part of a fully connected 360-degree package made up of leading technology, an attractive vehicle fleet, intelligent fleet management and a customer-centric booking system - all from a single source and quickly scalable to fleet size on the road.
“This positions the Volkswagen Group among the frontrunners in a multi-billion-dollar global growth market. Hamburg is our starting point. Beginning in 2026, we will bring sustainable, autonomous mobility to large-scale deployment in Europe and the US - another milestone on our path to becoming a global technology driver in the automotive industry,” said Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group.
We've been promised autonomous cars for years, so how serious is this?
The jury's still out on that, but Volkswagen is deadly serious and offering it as a ready-to-go package, encompassing vehicle and software in one, and selling to big operators rather than individuals, is arguably a much better way to go.
“With the ID. Buzz AD, future technology becomes market ready. By combining vehicle and software into a fully autonomous solution, we are bundling our technological expertise with a clear focus on artificial intelligence. Our goal is to create intelligent mobility solutions that can be deployed across Europe and worldwide. In doing so, we are making a tangible contribution to technological sovereignty and strengthening Germany's role in a highly dynamic field of innovation,” explains Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility.
So how does it all work?
VW and MOIA take the all-electric Buzz, and then they pair it with technology company Mobileye's self-driving system, along with a package of MOIA-designed software called the Autonomous Driving Mobility as a Service (AD MaaS) Ecosystem Platform.
According to VW and MOIA, that software uses artificial intelligence to manage fleets in real time, assist passengers automatically, ensure safety and integrate seamlessly into existing booking apps.
It also meets key regulatory requirements for SAE Level 4 automated vehicles, such as remote supervision and safe handling of what are called 'edge like emergency interventions' - that means situations where the software meets something it hasn't been programmed to cope with, and a human driver or a remote human operator can step in to assist.
Volkswagen and MOIA then also provide all the assistance needed for an operating company to set itself up as a service provider, holding their hand if you like, to get the service up and running.
“Mobility is a basic human need. Artificial intelligence opens entirely new opportunities to give people access to flexible, shared, comfortable, and affordable mobility,” says Sascha Meyer, CEO of MOIA.”
“Autonomous vehicles can help tackle challenges such as the growing driver shortage and low service demand in rural regions.
“With the AD ecosystem and the ID. Buzz AD, we are creating a mobility offering that allows operators of autonomous fleets to serve cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike.”
How does an ID. Buzz AD see where it's going?
If you look at the roof of the ID. Buzz AD, you'll see a chunky box-like structure. It's not for luggage though; it's home to a series of high-tech sensors, provided by Mobileye. Those include 13 cameras, nine LIDAR sensors (which combine lasers with radar to provide a true 3D, depth perception view of what's going on around the car) and five radar units.
VW says that the ID. Buzz AD generates a 'comprehensive, redundant 360-degree view of its surroundings.'
Inside, there are five seats in the back of the Buzz, accessed through the electric sliding side door on the kerb side (the other door appears to have been sealed shut for safety, to prevent people stepping out into traffic).
There are bright yellow seatbelts and grab handles, and 'support buttons' which allow passengers to interact with the software's AI, or to contact a human operator if needed.
Up front, there's a luggage rack, and a driver's seat pushed right up against a covered steering wheel, which suggests that, when needed, a human driver can step in and take control.