► First trials on European roads
► Using the ID Buzz
Driverless electric Volkswagens are gearing up for deployment on European roads, as the continent’s biggest car maker steps up development ahead of a planned commercial introduction in 2025 – with no human at the wheel.
By the end of 2021, prototypes of the ID Buzz – the electrified reincarnation of the famous Kombi van, rolling on Volkswagen’s electric MEB architecture – will be testing on Munich’s streets, as well as on a purpose-built test track near Munich airport.
Volkswagen is prioritising development in its van division, as it sees commercial applications for autonomous vehicles – ride-hailing and delivery vehicles – providing a far stronger business case than passenger cars. That said, Volkswagen plans to extend Level 4, hands-off autonomous driving to cars in the ID electric range by 2026.