May Mobility Targets More Than 10K Volkswagen ID. Buzz Robotaxis Through 2031
By Greg Bock · · 3 min read
Insider Brief
- May Mobility plans to deploy more than 10,000 autonomous Volkswagen ID. Buzz vehicles through 2031, with U.S. road testing scheduled for early 2027 and initial production deliveries targeted for 2028.
- The company is working with ECARX and Charlton Intelligence.ai to integrate its autonomous driving technology and support vehicle deployment, targeting cost savings of at least 50% compared with its current-generation vehicle.
- May Mobility has completed more than 600,000 commercial autonomous rides across 1.1 million miles in the United States and Japan, with existing U.S. operations and a planned Uber robotaxi launch in Arlington, Texas, in 2027.
May Mobility plans to deploy more than 10,000 autonomous Volkswagen ID. Buzz vehicles through 2031 as it expands its robotaxi operations with fleet partners worldwide.
According to the Ann Arbor, Michigan, company, U.S. road testing is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with the first production vehicles targeted for delivery in 2028. The electric vehicles will be adapted to work with May Mobility’s autonomous driving system.
May Mobility indicated it will collaborate with automotive technology company ECARX to integrate its autonomous driving kit into a version of the ID. Buzz designed for self-driving operations. Charlton Intelligence.ai has also joined the partnership to help deploy the vehicles.
The companies are targeting total cost savings of 50% or more compared with its current-generation autonomous vehicle through their supply chain collaboration, according to May Mobility,
“Scaling autonomous ride-hail depends heavily on the vehicle platform, and the Volkswagen ID. Buzz gives us one well suited for it,” May Mobility founder and CEO Edwin Olson. “We think riders will love the ID. Buzz running on May Mobility’s autonomous driving system, and the vehicle will be built on economics that can scale with the robotaxi market.”
The ID. Buzz is an all-electric vehicle based on Volkswagen’s original bus design. May Mobility cited its multiple entry doors and spacious interior as features suited to passenger service, and the company plans to deploy the ID. Buzz through fleet operator partnerships, building on its existing autonomous ride-hailing operations.
Expanding Autonomous Ride-Hailing
May Mobility’s autonomous driving system uses a predictive world model to assess road conditions and evaluate possible driving decisions. The technology simulates driving scenarios up to 10 seconds into the future before selecting a course of action.
May Mobility reported completing more than 600,000 commercial autonomous rides covering 1.1 million miles in the United States and Japan. It also reported three deployments operating without onboard safety drivers.
The company currently provides commercial services in three U.S. locations, including through Lyft in Atlanta and autonomous ride services in Eden Prairie and Grand Rapids, Minnesota. May Mobility is also planning a 2027 commercial launch with Uber in Arlington, Texas. In Japan, the company began a six-month on-demand autonomous vehicle pilot with NTT Mobility in Nagoya in September.
May Mobility said it will release additional details on the ID. Buzz specifications, testing and deployment plans at a future date.
