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| Volkswagen is bringing the iconic minibuses back to life |
We first saw this car five years after Volkswagen first unveiled the electric concept for its popular microbus.
The ID Buzz is equipped with a suite of high-tech sensors and computer intelligence to fulfill its new role as an independent test vehicle.
Self-driving with ID Buzz will become a large-scale commercial ride-sharing platform that the automaker plans to launch in Germany in 2025.
The company currently plans to use ID Buzz on public test roads in Munich and on private runways near Munich Airport.
The truck celebrated its public premiere at IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, where new concepts from Mercedes and BMW can also be seen.
The trucks use hardware and software developed by Argo AI, a Pittsburgh startup backed by Ford and Volkswagen.
Automakers formed a global alliance in 2019 to jointly develop electric and self-driving cars to share the cost of the expensive and cumbersome process.
As part of the deal, the company invested $2.6 billion in Argo AI, which rose to $7 billion in value.
Argo AI opened an office in Munich and took command of the Volkswagen Autopilot team based there.
The Argo AI is currently being tested in the US using modified Ford vehicles, but like some competitors, it has yet to show off its autonomous vehicle.
ID Buzz contains the hardware and software for the Argo AI autopilot. Including a self-developed lidar sensor with a range of 400 metres.
Volkswagen is bringing the iconic minibuses back to life
The company plans to use the trucks as a ride-sharing facility for its subsidiary Moia. As part of the Volkswagen Ride service in Hamburg, the company has been operating a fleet of electric vehicles since 2017.
To date, the company has served 3 million customers. These customers have given a lot of comments. It will be used in the company's transition to a fully autonomous vehicle fleet by 2025.
Although initially high hopes. Self-driving cars are a far cry from being able to drive everywhere and under all conditions.
As many companies have acquired or merged with other companies, the industry has solidified rapidly over the past year.
This is done to deal with long delivery times and high operating costs, and it is almost not likely to generate revenue in the short term.
Self-driving taxis are considered to have exceeded the expectations of most companies. In addition, the company said it remains optimistic about meeting the target date.
Argo AI has been testing its fourth generation vehicles for several years. There are also plans to launch a ride-sharing service with Lyft in the US before the end of the year.