Volkswagen’s mobility chief says self-driving cars core to plan

FILED - Automotive companies like Volkswagen are aiming to grab a share of the burgeoning new economy in on-demand mobility which Uber has ushered in over the years. VW's Moia offshoot will operate hundreds of on-demand shuttles in major German cities like Hamburg and eventually beyond. Photo: Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa

Volkswagen AG’s fledgling Moia mobility unit is betting on the rise of self-driving cars to deliver on its plan to catch up with ride-hailing leaders like Uber Technologies Inc without burning through piles of cash. 

Moia is focused on connecting the fast-changing mobility marketplace with the German automaker’s vast manufacturing capacity, including its efforts to develop autonomous cars, according to unit CEO Ole Harms. Moia is open to partnerships as it aims to crack the top three in mobility – a category that includes services like ride pooling and car sharing – and also make a profit by 2025, he said.