Europe is about to enter the robotaxi race. A new partnership between Rimac Technology’s subsidiary Verne, Uber, and Pony.ai aims to launch the continent’s first commercial driverless taxi service in Zagreb.
Development is already underway, with testing on public roads in progress. The companies plan to roll out the service soon in Zagreb, marking a significant milestone for Europe, which has so far lagged behind the U.S. and China in autonomous mobility deployments.
The initial fleet will not feature Verne’s futuristic autonomous pod unveiled in 2024, but instead will rely on the Arcfox Alpha T5—a Chinese-built electric vehicle equipped with Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system. The model offers a range of up to 273 miles (WLTP), positioning it as a practical choice for early-stage urban deployment.
From a user perspective, access will be seamless. Robotaxis will be integrated directly into the Uber app, meaning riders in Croatia will be able to request a fully autonomous ride just like any other trip. Behind the scenes, Verne will handle fleet ownership, regulatory approvals, and operational coordination, while Pony.ai provides the self-driving technology.
The partnership also signals a broader strategic push. Once regulatory approvals are secured and sufficient real-world data is collected, the companies plan to scale the service to other European cities. Thousands of robotaxis could be deployed across multiple markets in the coming years, although key operational details, such as the presence of safety drivers at launch, remain unclear.
Uber’s role goes beyond platform integration. The company is also investing in Verne and supporting its expansion as a strategic partner, reinforcing its broader approach of collaborating across the autonomous vehicle ecosystem. To date, Uber has signed over 20 partnerships globally with companies including Rivian, Volkswagen, Lucid Motors, and Zoox.
For Europe, this initiative is more than a pilot. It represents a shift from experimentation to real-world deployment—bringing autonomous mobility closer to everyday users through platforms they already trust.
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