Volkswagen is getting more serious about autonomous driving. Although Tesla and Waymo have been leading the development of next-generation driving technology, traditional car manufacturers like Volkswagen are now investing heavily in this area. Volkswagen recently announced its inaugural autonomous driving program in the U.S.
In this initiative, Volkswagen has partnered with autonomous car tech company MobileEye to equip 10 all-electric ID. Buzz vans with self-driving technology. These vehicles are currently being tested in Austin, Texas, and over the next few years, Volkswagen plans to expand the fleet to at least four more cities. By 2026, they aim to commercially launch autonomous cars in Austin.
Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, expressed excitement about introducing the ID. Buzz vehicles to American roads. He highlighted that expanding their global autonomous vehicle program to the U.S. is a significant milestone. The end goal is to meet the growing demand for new mobility services by offering a reliable and appealing product like the ID. Buzz.
While these cars are being tested in the U.S., there’s no immediate impact for Austin residents in terms of ride-sharing services, unlike what Waymo is doing in San Francisco. Volkswagen’s ultimate aim is to get self-driving cars on American roads. However, it’s not yet clear whether they plan to sell these cars to individual customers or use them in a ride-hailing service.
It’s important to note that Volkswagen isn’t alone in developing self-driving tech. Most major automakers are working on it in some form. Currently, self-driving technology is mostly limited to features like adaptive cruise control and other basic functionalities. However, more advanced systems capable of handling lane changes and highway driving without driver intervention are being introduced. Tesla’s “full self-driving” feature, which still requires driver attention and regular intervention, is an example of where the technology is heading.