The contribution autonomous driving: How VW could change society first appeared at the online magazine Basic Thinking. You can start the day well every morning via our newsletter update.
From 2026, Volkswagen plans to bring series -ready self -driving cars to the German roads. DThe step can be much more than just another attempt in the history of autonomous driving, because: he could change our society. A column by Carsten Lexa.
When I wrote the article “Why the public transport will not save us” in July 2022, it was a conscious counter -draft to the then popular opinion that we would not get the mobility problems under control by more buses, lanes and tickets for nine euros.
Instead, I sketched that autonomous and electrical vehicles are the actual key technology of the coming years. Not because they are supposed to replace public transport, but because they enable flexible, intelligent mobility network that goes beyond the rigid line plans and clocks, especially from rail -bound public transport.
Autonomous driving: VW wants to bring self -driving cars onto the streets in 2026
Volkswagen has Now announcedfrom 2026, self -driving vehicles of level 4 (i.e. fully automated driving without human intervention in defined areas) to bring it ready for series production to German roads. The first models are to be tested and used in Hamburg in cooperation with VW subsidiary Moia and later in cities like Los Angeles with Uber.
The central starting point of the VW project is the ID. Buzz ad – a futuristic interpreted minibus that is more reminiscent of a lounge than a classic car. Behind it is not just a design, but rather technological seriousness. VW has equipped the vehicle with an all-round sensor package: 13 cameras, 9 lidar sensors, 5 radar systems.
These systems are integrated, not assembled, as on other vehicles currently tested. The id. Buzz AD not only looks autonomously driving, it is also intended to drive autonomously. Not only the car itself is remarkable, but rather the ecosystem behind it.
Moia places the platform, VW develops the vehicles and partners like Uber to ensure the rollout in international markets. Hamburg should serve as a European starting point. The vehicles will be tested there from 2026. From 2027, hundreds or thousands of them could then be traveling in regular operation – as part of a new local public transport that does not replace rail or bus, but supplemented and flexibly expanded.
How Volkswagen could change society
What is particularly noticeable is that Volkswagen apparently learned from the past. The earlier, internal shattered initiatives for autonomous driving – often with great announcements, but without a punch – are a thing of the past. Now the company relies on an integrated system that connects software and hardware.
The id. Buzz ad is not sold as a singular “mobility device”, but as a “mobility building block” for cities and companies and is therefore intended as a mobility provider. In my opinion, Volkswagen does not only want to simply build autonomously driving cars, but also deliver mobility.
In particular, I find the associated strategic realignment noteworthy: Instead of being lost in regulatory loopholes or pilot projects over decades, VW ventures the scalable market entry – first under supervision (with security drivers), later as a real robotaxi.
When I once wrote that autonomous vehicles were the key to the mobility of the future, it was not the most popular. Most reactions ranged from polite skepticism to ironic rejection (“Yes, and flying taxis will soon be.”). But now, just three years later, it turns out that we are actually on the threshold of autonomous reality. Not through a silicone-vis ruptor. But through a German car company.
I am very happy about this development. Not because I was right, but because a vision that has long been a technoid spinning will become concrete reality. That we as a society find the courage not only to talk about sustainability, but also to combine it with real innovation.
VW: Autonomous driving goes far beyond technology
This development is not just a technical event. It is also, maybe even a cultural, an economic and a social event. Because if vehicles are traveling without a driver in the future, then we have to ask ourselves basic, related questions:
-
- How do we want to design our cities? Do parking spaces still have to be in the center if cars can drive away independently? Do inner cities become calmer when traffic is intelligently controlled?
- What happens to drive as an activity? Driver professions change. New jobs are created in fleet management, AI monitoring, maintenance and route optimization. But there is also preparation – and further education.
- Does mobility become more fair through autonomous driving? If autonomous vehicles are available around the clock, people in rural regions, with disabilities or without their own car could also have access to individual mobility. The technology could reduce social inequality – if it is used correctly.
All of these questions extend far beyond the technical horizon. But they are part of what is coming. Volkswagen may start. But the path we enter affects all of us.
Conclusion: The future has no rearview mirror
Autonomous driving comes – and it does not come at some point, but specifically, foreseeable and with a plan. In 2026 Volkswagen brings the self -driving vehicle to German roads and this event will have meaning that goes far beyond technology: it is about a new understanding of mobility, the decoupling of possession and movement, in order to transition from individual decision to collective intelligence to four wheels.
I believed in it in 2022. Today I don’t just believe that I see it. What we need now is no further evidence of feasibility (which is there) – but the social will to make this technology smart and justice. Because the really exciting question is no longer whether autonomous vehicles become part of our mobility. But rather: how do we design the world in which you drive?
Also interesting:
- Rheinmetall starts series production of loading stone for electric cars
- Range extender of ZF is intended to increase range of electric cars
- Study clarifies: Are magnetic fields of electric cars dangerous?
- A44: First solar wind protection in Germany should make the motorway safer
The contribution autonomous driving: How VW could change society first appeared on basic thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard Or subscribe to our update newsletter.
As a Tech Industry expert, I believe that Autonomous driving has the potential to revolutionize society in numerous ways. From improving road safety and reducing traffic congestion to increasing mobility for individuals who are unable to drive themselves, the benefits of Autonomous driving are vast.
Volkswagen (VW) has the opportunity to be a major player in this transformation. With their resources and expertise in automotive technology, VW could lead the way in developing safe and reliable Autonomous driving systems. By investing in research and development, as well as forging partnerships with other tech companies, VW could accelerate the adoption of Autonomous vehicles on a global scale.
Furthermore, VW has the chance to shape the societal impact of Autonomous driving by prioritizing ethical considerations and addressing potential concerns such as job displacement for drivers and data privacy. By engaging with policymakers, regulators, and the public, VW can help ensure that Autonomous driving is implemented in a way that benefits society as a whole.
In conclusion, VW has the opportunity to change society for the better through their advancements in Autonomous driving technology. By embracing innovation and collaboration, VW can help create a safer, more efficient, and more accessible transportation system for all.
Credits