VW Robo-Id.buzz: Volkswagen's attack on Teslas Robotaxi lead
from Constantin Hoffmann to Jul 02, 2025
A new player in the robo taxi race
Volkswagen provides with the VW Robo-Id.buzz his first autonomous series vehicle. As early as 2026, the electric Bulli taxis in Hamburg and Los Angeles should bring passengers to their destination without a driver-supported by partnerships with Moia, BVG and Uber.
Why the Robo-ID.Buzz is important
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Level 4 autonomy: Independent driving without security drivers in defined zones.
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Scalability: VW plans "a few thousand" vehicles within a decade.
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European advance: While Tesla and Waymo are already offering services in the USA, VW wants to score on domestic soil - an important step for European manufacturers.
This is how VW positions itself against Tesla & China
| Provider | Current status | Reach & test areas |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Robotaxi | Pilot in Austin, 10–20 vehicles, FSD camera system | USA |
| Waymo One | ~ 1500 Level 4-Taxis,> 250,000 trips/week | USA (7 cities until the end of 2025) |
| BYD / Baidu / AutoX | Level 4 tests without safety drivers | China (Shenzhen, Wuhan ...) |
| VW Robo-Id.buzz | Rollout 2026 in DE & USA, partnerships with public transport & Uber | Europe & USA |
Technical key data of the VW Robo-ID.buzz
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base: Id.buzz AD on MEB platform
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Sensors: Lidar + Radar + cameras, redundant control units
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reach:> 400 km WLTP, bidirectional shop for depot charging
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Backend: Cariad software stack, cloud analysis for fleet optimization
Opportunities & challenges
Advantages
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Wide service network from VW commercial vehicles & Moia
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Combine of ride pooling and classic taxi operation
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High acceptance of the iconic Bulli design
Risks
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Lidar hardware still costly → economy questionable
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Legal approvals in EU cities more complex than in China/USA
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Strong competition: Tesla scaled via OTA data lead, Waymo via alphabet capital
outlook
VW plans to start the public pilot phase in 2025 and operate several metropolises by 2028. If the plan succeeds, the Robo-id.buzz The European counterweight against Tesla & Co. will give new tailwind in the race for autonomous driving.