Uber, Volkswagen pair up to launch robotaxi service in US with self-driving, electric microbuses

Volkswagen of America and Uber on Thursday unveiled an ambitious plan to launch a commercial robotaxi service — using autonomous electric VW ID. BUZZ vehicles — in multiple U.S. cities over the next decade. The companies expect to launch a commercial service in Los Angeles, the first city on the list, by late 2026. VW and Uber didn’t provide details on potential future markets. Initially, the service won’t be driverless. The fleet of autonomous vehicles will have human safety operators behind the wheel before they go driverless in 2027, a VW spokesperson told TechCrunch. That gives Volkswagen ADMT, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Volkswagen of America, up to two years to navigate the regulatory landscape in California and gain the permits required to test its autonomous vehicles and eventually operate a commercial service. Volkswagen ADMT will begin testing in Los Angeles later this year once it receives its initial testing permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicl ... Read full article.