Uber and Volkswagen Unveil New 10-Year Partnership
Source: Uber Volkswagen Group of America and Uber Technologies have unveiled a long-term partnership that will place thousands of fully electric, self-driving ID. Buzz Autonomous Driving (AD) vans on the Uber ride-hailing platform over the next ten years. Announced on 24 April, the agreement begins with on-road testing in Los Angeles later this year. It targets a commercial roll-out 2026, positioning the scheme as one of the largest robotaxi programmes yet attempted in the United States. Roll-out timetable and first launch city Under the memorandum of understanding, a pilot phase is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025. Each van will carry a trained safety driver who can assume control at any moment, a requirement Volkswagen and Uber say will remain until the technology delivers consistent real-world performance. Subject to state and municipal approvals, paying passengers should be able to hail the service through the existing Uber app in 2026. Los Angeles was...