Continental and Uber Technologies Inc., jointly making a big push into the autonomous sector, have announced plans to bring a robotaxi service to Los Angeles. Relying on self-driving, all-electric microbuses, they hope to begin commercial operations by late 2026. This move takes advantage of Uber’s deep relationships with over 14 AV companies. Together, they hope to change the way people navigate our cities through cutting-edge technology.
The partnership is another big move for both companies as they continue joint development on autonomous vehicle technology. In a global scale, Uber and Volkswagen are sending a strong signal about the future of autonomous vehicles in smart city urban life. Of all the cities in the world to lead the charge with this groundbreaking service, they have picked Los Angeles.
Uber has done much of the work by way of starting a robotaxi service in concert with Waymo in Austin, Texas. This summer, they’re poised to bring this new and exciting service to Atlanta. The new, soon-to-be-accompanied Los Angeles initiative marks the latest step in Uber’s plan to undermine regulation and corner the robotaxi market.
Volkswagen’s subsidiary launched its autonomous vehicle test program in Austin in July 2023. To help power this first-of-its-kind initiative, the company will roll out a fleet of 10 all-electric ID Buzz vehicles. These vehicles have been installed with Mobileye’s state-of-the-art technology. They will be piloted under the watchful eyes of human safety operators, at least until they move to fully driverless operation by 2027.
Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility, is all-in on creating the future of mobility. He brought this commitment to life through the company’s recent partnership.
“Volkswagen is not just a car manufacturer — we are shaping the future of mobility, and our collaboration with Uber accelerates that vision.” – Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility
During the testimony, he stressed the benefits provided by their collaborative arrangement. It combines our manufacturing knowhow with cutting edge technology, purpose built for the needs of urban mobility.
“What really sets us apart is our ability to combine the best of both worlds–high-volume manufacturing expertise with cutting-edge technology and a deep understanding of urban mobility needs.” – Christian Senger, CEO of Volkswagen Autonomous Mobility
Uber and Volkswagen have made their intentions known for Los Angeles. To date, they have not announced any target future markets for their autonomous vehicle services. Volkswagen plans to ramp up the deployment of ID Buzz vehicles to several other U.S. cities in the coming decade.
