Look Both Ways, Texas: VW Prototype AVs Heading to This Town for Testing

• VW gets ready to test autonomous ID. Buzz prototypes in Austin, Texas, ahead of a planned commercial debut of Level 4 vehicles in 2026.

• The automaker is working with Mobileye in readying Level 4 vehicles for operations in several cities.

• VW has opened offices of a new subsidiary dubbed Volkswagen ADMT, LLC, in Austin and one other city, betting on an emerging market for robotaxis.

Volkswagen fans won't be able to get their paws on the electric ID. Buzz until 2024, but one version of it will get here much sooner. Starting this month VW will test autonomous ID. Buzz prototypes in Austin, Texas—Tesla's new hometown—developed by Volkswagen and Mobileye.

The automaker will kick off tests of its autonomous tech with a fleet of 10 ID. Buzz vehicles outfitted with roof sensor pods, before adding other cities to the program. The long-term aim is to launch commercial operations in Austin by 2026.

Just what level of autonomy does VW envision?

In the longer term VW aims to commercialize a fleet of Level 4 robotaxis by 2026, given its efforts in this sphere elsewhere, specifically its MOIA ride-pooling shuttle service intended to launch a couple of years earlier in Germany.

Early on VW had partnered with Argo AI on autonomous vehicle development, before the developer was forced to shut down. VW is currently working with Mobileye, with vehicles using LiDAR, cameras, and radar.