Volkswagen is set to take a monumental leap into the future of mobility with the upcoming launch of its first fully autonomous production vehicle — the electric ID. Buzz AD. Representing a new technological era for the German automaker, the vehicle promises to transform urban transportation, although it won’t be available to private buyers.

Expected to enter regular use in Hamburg and Los Angeles by 2027, the ID. Buzz AD is positioned not as a consumer car but as a purpose-built solution for public transportation fleets, ride-sharing services, and commercial partners such as Uber and Moia. The van will debut with around 500 units operating in Hamburg as part of Volkswagen’s own ride-hailing service.

Unlike some competitors in the autonomous race who are targeting individual ownership, Volkswagen is embracing a strategic fleet-first approach. “This is a true revolution in mobility, and we want to shape how cities move,” said a company spokesperson. The vehicle is engineered specifically for urban environments and requires integration with a digital control center, making personal ownership both impractical and economically unviable.

The ID. Buzz AD stands out not only as Volkswagen’s first autonomous vehicle, but also as Europe’s first fully autonomous production car, assembled at the company’s commercial vehicle facility in Hanover. While the model is based on the familiar ID. Buzz design, it is a technological marvel in its own right — equipped with 13 cameras, 9 LiDAR systems, and 5 radar sensors that monitor its surroundings in real time. The system supports autonomous travel at speeds of up to 120 km/h and accommodates four passengers.

Originally slated for launch in 2026, the ID. Buzz AD’s rollout was postponed by a year to allow further development and regulatory approvals, particularly in Europe where legislation for Level 4 autonomy is still evolving. In the interim, vehicles will still feature a safety driver until full certification is secured.

Volkswagen’s autonomous driving program began in earnest in 2021. Since then, its test fleet — now numbering around 100 vehicles — has logged over 600,000 kilometers across cities including Munich, Hamburg, Austin, and Oslo. This growing experience base forms the foundation of the commercial-scale deployment planned for 2027.

The long-term vision is ambitious: Volkswagen plans to deliver more than 10,000 autonomous ID. Buzz vans in the first generation, with Uber alone expected to acquire up to 10,000 units over the next decade.

Yet, for all its technological promise, the ID. Buzz AD remains out of reach for private buyers — not just due to its operational restrictions but also its prohibitive cost. Estimates suggest that a single unit could exceed €100,000, rendering it a vehicle designed strictly for integrated, urban fleet use.

As cities prepare for smarter, more efficient transport systems, Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz AD might just be the vehicle that drives that change. But for now, it will remain a vision shared, not owned.

Source: Volkswagen

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