Autonomous driving for everyone, proposed by Volkswagen
Volkswagen and Bosch Team Up to Bring Autonomous Driving to Millions
Volkswagen (VW) and Bosch have announced a collaboration to develop Level 2+ and Level 3 autonomous driving technology, with a focus on making these advanced features accessible to consumers.
Through VW's software subsidiary Cariad, the companies aim to have their AI-based software stack ready for initial series production projects by mid-2026. This technology, currently being tested in vehicles such as the VW ID.Buzz and Audi Q8, is designed for safer and more natural automated driving functions.
The collaboration seeks to bring these advanced driver assistance systems, which handle many driving tasks under certain conditions, to affordable and mass-market models built on Volkswagen Group’s new software-defined vehicle architecture. The companies are collecting high-quality sensor data from hundreds of test vehicles throughout 2025 to optimize their AI stacks for perception, decision-making, and action.
In addition to this, Volkswagen is targeting a 2026 launch for its ID. Buzz AD robotaxi, a Level 4 autonomous electric microbus, indicating progress on fully autonomous vehicles focused on urban mobility. However, this is a separate development from the Level 2+ and Level 3 systems intended for broader consumer vehicles.
The autonomous driving solution under development is designed for temporary hand-off capabilities, meaning drivers can temporarily remove their hands from the wheel while maintaining full attention. The technology is not yet capable of full autonomy without driver monitoring.
The goal of this collaboration is to make autonomous driving a reality for millions of drivers. While the joint statement does not provide details on the specific AI technology to be used, it indicates that the companies are planning to develop a Level 3 autonomous driving technology.
In summary, affordable VW models featuring Level 2+ and Level 3 driver assistance with Bosch and Cariad technology are expected to be commercially available starting around mid-2026. The Level 4 robotaxi service marks a separate, more advanced deployment also planned for 2026 but initially limited to specific commercial rollout areas.
[1] Volkswagen and Bosch Collaborate on Autonomous Driving
[2] Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD Robotaxi to Launch in 2026
[3] Volkswagen and Bosch Collaborate on Autonomous Driving Software
- The joint collaboration between Volkswagen and Bosch is focused on developing autonomous driving technology for the automotive industry, particularly in the finance sector, where they aim to make Level 2+ and Level 3 autonomous driving technology affordable for mass-market transportation.
- Volkswagen's ID. Buzz AD, a Level 4 autonomous electric microbus, is scheduled for launch in 2026, marking progress in technology's application within urban mobility.
- Through their software subsidiary Cariad, Volkswagen and Bosch are working together to create an AI-based software stack for autonomous driving, using high-quality sensor data collected from hundreds of test vehicles in 2025 to optimize their AI stacks for perception, decision-making, and action.
