Multi-Year Target for Adapted Electric Vans
May Mobility and ECARX announced plans to deploy more than 10,000 self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric vans globally through 2031. U.S. on-road testing will begin in early 2027. First production-vehicle deliveries are targeted for 2028. ECARX will integrate May Mobility's autonomous driving kit into the ID. Buzz platform while coordinating supply chain execution alongside Charlton Intelligence.ai.
May Mobility stated that this collaboration targets all-in vehicle cost savings exceeding 50% compared with its current-generation fleet. The two companies first signed a strategic framework agreement in May 2026 covering customized AI central computing platforms and sensor suites. May Mobility intends to operate the adapted vans through third-party fleet partners rather than owning the vehicles directly, maintaining an asset-light business model. The 10,000-vehicle figure represents a deployment target rather than a binding purchase order, and Volkswagen was not quoted in the release.
"Scaling autonomous ride-hail depends heavily on the vehicle platform, and the Volkswagen ID. Buzz gives us one well suited for it," said Dr. Edwin Olson, CEO and founder of May Mobility, in the company's PR Newswire release. "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."
To date, May Mobility has completed more than 600,000 commercial autonomous rides across 1.1 million miles in the United States and Japan, including three driver-out deployments. The company currently operates commercial services with Lyft in Atlanta and runs autonomous rides in Eden Prairie and Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
