Volkswagen ADMT, the carmaker’s autonomous-vehicle testing subsidiary, has tapped Hivemapper’s Bee Maps to support its self-driving operations with real-time mapping data.
The deal highlights the growing adoption of crowdsourced geospatial data as autonomous ride-sharing firms look for more precise, up-to-date mapping infrastructure. It also showcases the growth of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), which use blockchain incentives to crowdsource real-world data collection. Hivemapper is one of the best-known DePIN projects in the Solana ecosystem.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Volkswagen’s autonomous driving unit has been testing its ‘Robotaxi’ fleet in recent months. In April, the company also announced a partnership with Uber to launch the service in U.S. markets, with pilot operations set for late 2025 and a wider rollout planned for 2026.
Contributors to Bee Maps, which is built on the Hivemapper network, earn crypto rewards for their efforts. AI then processes the images to detect signage, construction zones and lane closures, ensuring the data stays fresh.
