MOIA has launched passenger test operations for its autonomous ridepooling service in Hamburg, opening rides in the self-driving Volkswagen ID. Buzz to pre-registered residents through a fleet of up to ten vehicles. The launch is part of the ALIKE project, a Hamburg-based pilot funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Transport that is testing how autonomous on-demand mobility can complement the city’s buses and trains. Selected residents can now book trips through the MOIA app, with support for the hvv switch app expected soon. According to the company, the launch is a step toward a broader technology platform that combines the autonomy-enabled ID. Buzz, Mobileye’s self-driving system, and a Mobility-as-a-Service software layer for public and private fleet operators.
Highlights
- Pre-registered Hamburg residents can book rides in the autonomous, all-electric ID. Buzz through the MOIA app, with hvv switch app support coming soon
- The service area at launch covers parts of Winterhude, Barmbek, and Wandsbek, with up to ten autonomous vehicles deployed
- Rides are free during the pilot phase, and each vehicle carries a trained safety operator
- ALIKE is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Transport and led by Hamburg transit operator HOCHBAHN, which will begin operating autonomous HOLON vehicles in the project’s next phase
How the Pilot Service Works
As with MOIA’s existing ridepooling service, passengers traveling in the same direction share a vehicle, and pickup and drop-off take place at designated virtual stops. During the pilot phase, rides are free of charge, and each ID. Buzz carries a trained safety operator. Up to ten autonomous vehicles are being deployed as part of the project, operating in parts of Winterhude, Barmbek, and Wandsbek.
Inside the ALIKE Project
ALIKE is a Hamburg-based pilot project funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Transport to test autonomous on-demand mobility services and explore how they can complement buses and trains. HOCHBAHN leads the project overall, with MOIA, HOLON, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and Hamburg’s Ministry for Transport and Mobility Transition jointly responsible for implementing and scientifically evaluating it. Two integrated autonomous on-demand services are being developed under ALIKE. Following MOIA’s launch, the next phase will see HOCHBAHN begin operating autonomous vehicles built by HOLON.
A Technology Platform Built for Scale
MOIA frames the Hamburg launch as a milestone on the path toward autonomous mobility solutions made in Europe, built on a technology platform that combines the autonomy-enabled ID. Buzz with Mobileye’s self-driving system, a Mobility-as-a-Service software platform, and operator training and enablement. According to the company, the experience gained in Hamburg will help it further develop the platform and gradually extend it to additional markets as a technology provider.
MOIA is also active at other locations across Germany, Norway, and the United States, where it is preparing further passenger pilot operations. In the U.S., MOIA’s partnership with Beep targets up to 5,000 autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles for public transit over the next decade. In Norway, the company has run winter validation testing of the ID. Buzz AD in Oslo to prepare the platform for cold-weather operating conditions.
What Officials and Executives Are Saying
Federal Minister for Transport Patrick Schnieder tied the launch to the government’s broader support for autonomous mobility research: “Autonomous driving has the potential to make a tangible contribution to improving quality of life for everyone. Here in Hamburg, that vision is becoming a reality step by step. With the mobility project ALIKE, passengers can now experience first-hand how autonomous mobility services can meaningfully complement public transport. It offers people a modern, comfortable, and reliable mobility option. As the Federal Ministry for Transport, we are committed to supporting projects like this because they provide valuable insights that can help shape the future of mobility in cities and regions across Germany.”
Hamburg Senator for Transport and Mobility Transition Anjes Tjarks called the city an ideal testing ground for the technology: “Hamburg is the ideal place for pioneering mobility solutions. With our innovative transport infrastructure, we want to continue leading the way in autonomous driving and bring these vehicles onto our streets. With ALIKE, autonomous ridepooling is now taking a major step forward—from testing under real-world conditions to becoming part of everyday life for people in Hamburg. Our goal is a modern, reliable, and well-connected public transport system that makes meaningful use of new technologies.”
MOIA CEO Sascha Meyer said the Hamburg rollout is generating data the company needs to expand elsewhere: “Our first passengers are now experiencing autonomous mobility in Hamburg’s urban traffic for the first time. For MOIA, this marks an important milestone in the development of our European solution. The insights we gain from real-world operations will help us further refine our technology and service and prepare them for deployment in additional markets. Hamburg plays a central role in this journey: it is here that we are demonstrating how autonomous mobility can be introduced step by step into everyday use.”
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