May Mobility plans to put more than 10,000 autonomous Volkswagen ID. Buzz vehicles on global robotaxi platforms through 2031, the Ann Arbor, Michigan, company announced on November 12. The electric vans will run May Mobility's autonomous driving system, and the first production vehicles are targeted for delivery in 2028.
The program covers ID. Buzz units adapted to May Mobility's autonomous driving kit design requirements. ECARX, which trades on Nasdaq, is integrating May Mobility's system into the AV-ready ID. Buzz, and on-road testing in the US is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
Cost is the core of the plan. May Mobility said its supply-chain work with ECARX and Charlton Intelligence.ai supports an all-in targeted cost saving of more than 50% compared with its current-generation vehicle. Charlton Intelligence.ai has also joined the program to help deploy the vehicle. The saving is a development target, not yet a realized number.
“Scaling autonomous ride-hail depends heavily on the vehicle platform”— Edwin Olson, CEO and Founder of May Mobility
Key facts
- 01May Mobility targets more than 10,000 autonomous Volkswagen ID. Buzz vehicles on robotaxi platforms through 2031.
- 02ECARX is integrating the system; US on-road testing starts in early 2027 and first production deliveries are targeted for 2028.
- 03May Mobility targets an all-in vehicle cost saving of more than 50% versus its current-generation vehicle.
- 04The company has logged more than 600,000 commercial autonomous rides across 1.1 million miles in the US and Japan.
- 05A commercial launch with Uber in Arlington, Texas, is targeted for 2027.
May Mobility pointed to the ID. Buzz's design as a fit for ride-hail: it is all-electric, has multiple entry doors and generous interior space, and its styling draws on the original VW Bus. The company will deploy the vehicles with fleet operator partners, in keeping with what it describes as an asset-light, partnership-first model.
The driving software uses a predictive world model paired with real-time reasoning. May Mobility said the system simulates up to 10 seconds into the future, weighs multiple driving strategies and executes the one it judges best.
May Mobility enters the program with an operating record. The company has completed more than 600,000 commercial autonomous rides across 1.1 million miles in the US and Japan, including three driver-out deployments to date.
“We think riders will love the ID. Buzz running on May Mobility's autonomous driving system”— Edwin Olson, CEO and Founder of May Mobility
In the US, May Mobility runs commercial service with Lyft in Atlanta and operates autonomous ride services in Eden Prairie and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It is targeting a commercial launch with Uber in Arlington, Texas, in 2027.
Outside the US, May Mobility launched a six-month on-demand autonomous vehicle pilot with NTT Mobility in Nagoya, Japan, in September.
The ID. Buzz program remains in development. May Mobility said additional vehicle specifications, testing and deployment details are expected to be announced in the near future.
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