Wolfsburg, Germany, December 12, 2025 – The Volkswagen Group has taken a significant step toward the future of autonomous mobility with the introduction of urban testing of its Gen.Urban research vehicle.
After intensive testing, the Gen.Urban is now ready to operate autonomously in real urban traffic conditions in the city of Wolfsburg, offering a unique travel experience for its passengers.
The Gen.Urban was developed as part of a research project aimed at understanding how passengers interact with autonomous vehicles that do not feature a traditional steering wheel or pedals. The study seeks to explore how passengers experience travel in a fully automated environment and what demands this creates for future vehicle concepts.
Testing in Real Urban Traffic
The test route covers approximately ten kilometers across the city of Wolfsburg, passing through signalized intersections, roundabouts, and residential and industrial areas, simulating typical urban traffic challenges. The route also includes construction zones and potential congestion, ensuring that the Gen.Urban encounters a wide range of real-world scenarios.
The tests focus not only on vehicle performance but also on passenger interaction with the digital environment and in-vehicle comfort technologies. The Gen.Urban allows passengers to customize everything from temperature to ambient lighting, as well as adapt the digital interior using artificial intelligence (AI) to create a more comfortable and personalized environment.
Focus on the Passenger Experience
The primary objective of the project is to understand how passengers feel inside an autonomous vehicle. How do people spend their time during the journey? Which digital features best meet their needs for work, entertainment, or relaxation? How can interaction with the vehicle be optimized, especially for elderly passengers or children?
In an environment without a steering wheel or pedals, the vehicle greets passengers upon entry and automatically adjusts the seats according to their preferences. The Gen.Urban also allows passengers to interact with the digital environment through a front display that shows information adapted to the selected theme, with configurable lighting and sounds.
Safety and Monitoring
Although the Gen.Urban operates autonomously, a trained safety driver is present in the passenger seat during the tests. If necessary, the safety driver can intervene immediately using a specially developed control panel that includes a joystick for manual vehicle control.
Advances in Autonomous Driving
Dr. Nikolai Ardey, Head of Innovation at the Volkswagen Group, highlights the importance of these tests: “With Gen.Urban, we want to understand how passengers experience autonomous driving and build trust through meaningful interactions and a relaxed environment. The goal is to ensure that the technology meets people’s needs, creating a positive travel experience.”
The current test phase initially involves Volkswagen Group employees and is expected to last several weeks. The findings from this research will contribute to the development of future autonomous vehicle concepts and their user interactions.
Gen.Urban Test Route
- Distance: 10 km
- Key locations: Saar Street, Lessing Street, Brandenburger Platz, Grauhorststraße, Heinrich-Nordhoff Street.
- Test duration: Approximately 20 minutes per trip.
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Sources: Volkswagen Group, Images: Volkswagen. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
