A method for providing and operating a vehicle convoy , which vehicle convoy comprises a plurality of vehicles arranged directly one behind the other and at least one following vehicle (3, 3-1) autonomously follows a leading vehicle in the direction of travel, - wherein the vehicles forming the vehicle convoy are virtually coupled to one another by means of an electronic drawbar, wherein - a leading vehicle central longitudinal axis is defined by the leading vehicle in the direction of its leading vehicle length , - wherein a following vehicle central longitudinal axis is defined by the at least one first following vehicle in the direction of its following vehicle length , - wherein a projection line is defined from the leading vehicle central longitudinal axis and a further projection line is defined from the following vehicle central longitudinal axis of the at least one first following vehicle when projected in the direction of a planar contact surface , - wherein the two projection lines are arranged to extend in a common straight line, - wherein a first target distance value is defined between the leading vehicle and the at least one first following vehicle and the at least one first following vehicle is arranged behind the leading vehicle at the target distance value, characterized in - that a virtual first articulation point is defined between the leading vehicle and the at least one first following vehicle , which virtual first articulation point is arranged lying both on the projection line of the leading vehicle central longitudinal axis and on the projection line of the following vehicle central longitudinal axis , - that the virtual first articulation point is arranged at a leading vehicle distance from the leading vehicle and at a first following vehicle distance from the at least one first following vehicle , and - that a reference point for carrying out the steering movements of the at least one first following vehicle during the autonomous movement of the vehicle convoy is defined by the virtual first articulation point . - wherein the vehicles forming the vehicle convoy are virtually coupled to one another by means of an electronic drawbar, wherein - a leading vehicle central longitudinal axis is defined by the leading vehicle in the direction of its leading vehicle length , - wherein a following vehicle central longitudinal axis is defined by the at least one first following vehicle in the direction of its following vehicle length , - wherein a projection line is defined from the leading vehicle central longitudinal axis and a further projection line is defined from the following vehicle central longitudinal axis of the at least one first following vehicle when projected in the direction of a planar contact surface , - wherein the two projection lines are arranged to extend in a common straight line, - wherein a first target distance value is defined between the leading vehicle and the at least one first following vehicle and the at least one first following vehicle is arranged behind the leading vehicle at the target distance value, characterized in - that a virtual first articulation point is defined between the leading vehicle and the at least one first following vehicle , which virtual first articulation point is arranged lying both on the projection line of the leading vehicle central longitudinal axis and on the projection line of the following vehicle central longitudinal axis , - that the virtual first articulation point is arranged at a leading vehicle distance from the leading vehicle and at a first following vehicle distance from the at least one first following vehicle , and - that a reference point for carrying out the steering movements of the at least one first following vehicle during the autonomous movement of the vehicle convoy is defined by the virtual first articulation point . <EOS>