Moia & VW are testing autonomous ID. Buzz AD in Hamburg as well.

The Volkswagen subsidiary MOIA and the VW division ADMT have made another step in the development of autonomous mobility services at Level 4: After test drives in Austin (USA) and Munich last year, they are now starting trials in Hamburg. Media representatives and the Hamburg Senator for Transport and Mobility Transition, Anjes Tjarks, were able to gain an impression of the vehicle and the current state of development in the Hanseatic city.

At the same time, the prototype of the ID. Buzz AD provided a preview of the interior for test operation in Hamburg. With the help of 13 cameras, nine lidars, and five radars, the vehicles detect their surroundings in real-time. High-performance computers translate the data into driving commands. Additionally, the vehicles are equipped with redundant systems for brakes, steering, and power supply. Extensive simulations and real tests are carried out before deployment on public roads.

"Austin, Munich, and Hamburg – the ID. Buzz AD is being tested and validated in three major cities worldwide. The safety of passengers and everyone involved in traffic is our top priority. This also includes regular exchanges with local emergency services like police and fire departments," assures Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen ADMT.

The autonomous vehicles are expected to be optimally integrated into the city's emergency management in later operations, for example, by moving to the right-hand side of the road when forming emergency corridors. MOIA developed and established fully electric ride pooling in Hamburg. With more than eleven million passengers since 2019, the service is an integral part of the mobility mix of the Hanseatic city. The next logical step is autonomous driving, which prospectively enables a larger fleet. Passengers will then benefit from a highly available and user-friendly service at lower prices, they advertise. The ID. Buzz AD fleet will be implemented into the MOIA software environment, which includes intelligent fleet control, the booking app, and passenger management.

"In addition to the driving function in dense traffic, we are testing all functions for safe and comfortable transportation of customers. Next year, we will gradually expand the test operation. Selected individuals will then be able to book the autonomous MOIAs and be transported to their destination within the test area, just like during regular operations—with the difference that the vehicle drives autonomously," outlines Sascha Meyer, CEO of MOIA.

As surveys showed, 75 percent of users in Hamburg would view an autonomous MOIA service neutrally to positively. More than half would like to use an autonomous service from MOIA.