Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has kicked off pre-series production of the autonomous version of its electric minivan, the ID. Buzz AD, at its Hanover plant. The initial batches of vehicles are earmarked for testing and pilot projects across Europe and the United States. The company aims to roll out around 500 of these vehicles throughout 2026, with full-scale series production slated to begin in 2027.

The autonomous ID. Buzz is being developed in collaboration with subsidiary Moia and technology partner Mobileye. This model comes equipped with a comprehensive sensor suite, including cameras, radars, and lidars, all housed in a specialized rooftop module. It also features a high-performance onboard computer.

On the production line, the autonomous vehicles first undergo the standard assembly stages, just like the regular ID. Buzz models. After that, they move to an additional section where the autonomous driving system components are installed and the sensors are calibrated.

The ID. Buzz AD is designed to meet SAE Level 4 autonomy standards. In practice, this means the vehicle can operate without a driver within specific operational zones. Volkswagen plans to deploy these electric vehicles as robotaxis and shuttles. The first projects are set to launch in Hamburg under the ALIKE program, as well as in the U.S. in partnership with Uber. Overall, this technology could mark a significant step forward in the development of urban electric cars and autonomous transport services.