Moia Autonomous Shuttle: First Tests with Passengers
Beep, the American provider of autonomous shuttles, is launching the next test phase for Moia’s VW ID. Buzz fleet. Passenger service with selected test riders has begun in Orlando.
Image: Moia
Moia America, the U.S. arm of the VW mobility brand, is in an intensive test phase as part of its partnership with Beep, a mobility provider that operates autonomous fleets. Passenger trips using VW ID. Buzz AD autonomous vehicles have started in Lake Nona, Orlando (Florida/USA).
The passengers invited as part of the testing activities can now book the self-driving VW buses through the Beep app and use them on three designated routes at specific pick-up and drop-off points. Interested parties can also add themselves to the Beep waitlist to become passengers in future tests.
"Welcoming passengers is an exciting and important milestone for Moia America, as we introduce our first publicly available autonomous mobility service in the U.S.," says Paul DeLong, Co-President of Moia America. "Each ride helps us better understand how people interact with autonomous vehicles in everyday life and demonstrates how this technology can support growing communities and complement existing transportation networks."
The Moia vehicles are thus participating in traffic at full capacity at normal speeds for the first time. To ensure passenger safety, however, the buses are accompanied by trained personnel who can intervene actively in driving situations. Passengers are asked to provide feedback on their driving experience, thereby contributing directly to the development of this autonomous transportation service.
The VW ID. Buzz AD fleet was provided by Moia America and equipped with autonomous driving technology from Mobileye for use in Beep. The goal is to supply Beep with 5,000 autonomous vehicles for “Shared autonomous mobility Services.” These are not robot taxis for individual use, but rather a cost-effective and AI-driven solution for public transportation in the United States.
