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The classic VW bus got an all-electric update — but that was just the beginning. Now there's an autonomous driving version (that's intended for commercial fleets, reports Jalopnik, "a level 4 vehicle that drives set routes" that's "going into full production" as the ID Buzz AD. (The AD stands for "autonomous driving") The AD version sports a longer wheelbase and a higher roofline than its mere human-driven sibling, which helps it to fit in the 13 cameras, nine LiDARs, and five radars that will (hopefully) allow the car to drive without crashing into anybody. These are intended for large-fleet customers providing taxi services, either ones run by local governments or private companies. [Volkswagen Group software subsidiary MOIA] has already lined up its first customer, the German city of Hamburg, which will provide the automated Buzz as a public transit option alongside traditional bus and subway services. If all goes well, after Hamburg MOIA "will bring sustainable, autonomous mobility to large-scale deployment in Europe and the U.S.," according to VW Group CEO Oliver Blume. Down the road, VW has also signed an agreement for rideshare juggernaut Uber to use the ID Buzz AD across America, starting with Los Angeles in 2026. The ID Buzz AD is the first vehicle in Germany to reach SAE International's threshold for Level 4 autonomous driving, meaning that the car can drive itself, with no need for a driver behind the wheel, within designated areas. It comes with "a full suite of tools for public and private transit providers," notes the EV news site Electrek. "That includes everything from the self-driving tech to fleet management software, passenger support, and operator training. That will allow cities and companies to launch driverless fleets quickly, safely, and at scale." And Christian Senger, a member of the board of management of VW Commercial Vehicles, tells DW the vans will be manufactured in very large numbers. The Hannover VW factory is set to produce more than 10,000 commercial vehicles. "We believe we can be the leading supplier in Europe," Senger says.... [Senger] does not expect the top dog of Germany's beleaguered auto industry to make any money, at least at first. In the long term, though, he explains that autonomous driving is the lucrative field of the future, one that promises to be much more profitable than the traditional automotive industry... The exact price has not yet been announced but the ID. Buzz AD is unlikely to come cheap. According to Senger, buyers will have to pay a low six-figure sum (in euros) per vehicle. That means it's going to be expensive for transport companies. The Association of German Transport Companies or VDV, is calling for a nationally coordinated strategy of long-term financing, and a market launch supported by public funding, to establish the country's supremacy in this market.

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It comes after US President Donald Trump sensationally called for regime change, suggesting a new leader could 'Make Iran Great Again'.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out today

The exchange between real estate agent Constance Cunningham and interior designer Dara Huang happened during an upcoming episode of Britain's Most Expensive Houses on Channel 4.

Not quite the answer to life, the universe and everything, but not far off

Opinion  The smaller the org, the better the jobs. Not universally true, but a good rule of thumb. Small organizations have fewer layers of management, and each individual has much more influence. One voice in 50 is 100 times louder than one in 5,000. You get to say what you want to do and get to do it. Happiness. …

Sir Stephen Fry, 67, previously branded JK Rowling a 'friend of mine', adding he did not plan to 'abandon' friendships despite his trans pals being 'deeply upset' by the author.

A finance expert is warning savers to be wary of scammers offering easy 'solutions' to the tax change, which will happen in 2027.

Former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan gave birth to her first child in March of this year alongside husband Mark Wright, with the happy couple raking it in during the new mum's maternity leave

Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson welcomed her twins on 18 May but only got to take them home last week after they spent some time in the NICU

Millionaire playboy Jason Moore was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 18 years on December 23 2013 after he was convicted of the murder of Robert Darby.

Clifton George, 44, was charged with the murder of Annabel Rook, 46, as well as arson with intent to endanger life and will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court in East London today.

Trump used acts of public deception to hide his true plans to attack Iran, issuing statements meant to lull Iranian officials into a false sense of security.

Mainstream terrestrial telly in the UK has become a whole lot steamier in recent years. The change arguably started with the launch of ITV2 reality dating show Love Island in 2015.

The convicted paedophile, 55, was one of nine men jailed in 2012 for raping and trafficking vulnerable girls across northern England in a case that shocked the country.

PS Baskeyfield, of Essex Police’s Braintree district, was patrolling the rural back roads between Thaxted and Boxted.

The fire ravaged the first home on Grey Street, Gainsborough, at around 1pm on Friday before tearing through three neighbouring properties, leaving them uninhabitable.

The author, 59, who created the fantasy novels on which the show is based, took to X to rave about the first two episodes after reading them for the first time.

And was saved by an even worse meltdown caused by someone else

Who, Me?  Welcome to another working week and therefore another installment of Who, Me? – The Register's reader-contributed column where you confess to making a mess and somehow find safe egress.…

Cooks from the UK and beyond have shared what the reach for when they're peckish in a new interview with The Times ; and some of the answers may have you questioning their culinary tastes.

In the latest turn of events, BBC Eye contacted the gangster who claimed to order the murder of Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala in Punjab to ask him about the death.