Finally Self-Driving Volkswagen ID Buzz Minivans Will Feature New Argo AI Sensors

Volkswagen group is ready to release its Self-Driving ID Buzz minivans into the autonomous trials. This is an all-electric minivan capable of autonomously driving. After plenty of delays, it was announced that they will be available in 2023 when the reimagined modern bus will be conquering the streets.

The bringing to life of the self-driving isn’t just a Volkswagen’s credit. This is a project that brought along Volkswagen and Ford's stake in the self-driving startup Argo AI, becoming just a part of a bigger alliance adding the VW MEB platform-sharing. You see, Argo AI tech is the one that will improve the future ID Buzz with appropriate sensors, and help it go through the necessary tests in the Munich test facility. And this one will become part of a "Level 4-capable" autonomous driving suite test program.

The concept is offering a self-driving VW minivan that could perform commercial delivery services. And the goal is set for 2025 so far. The test facility should make the ID Buzz ready for the public roads later this year. The biggest surprise of these futuristic self-driving cars is that this time VW will its driver assistance system that eschews lidar. The only difference here is that the sensor suite developed by Argo AI has a more comprehensive scanning tech.

The so-called "Argo Lidar" can foresee “an object from 437 yards away and can sense just a single photon being reflected from a low-reflectivity object. In addition to lidar, the system includes radar and cameras.” So far, the system has VW's subsidiary MOIA as the first registered user. Also, a German company means that by 2025, if no more delays will appear, we will be able to see the VW ID Buzz self-driving minivans in real-life action.

Should we wish good luck to ourselves or to the VW Team in achieving the planned goals?