In a new push into autonomous mobility, Croatian startup Verne has partnered with Uber and Pony.ai to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Europe.
The service will debut in Zagreb, with on-road testing already underway. While a launch timeline has not been announced, the partnership signals a major step toward commercial deployment.
Under the collaboration, Pony.ai will provide the autonomous driving technology along with its robotaxi vehicle, the Arcfox Alpha T5, developed with Chinese automaker BAIC. Verne will own and operate the fleet, while Uber will power ride access through its global platform. Uber also plans to invest in Verne and support its future expansion.
Founded by Mate Rimac, Verne began as Project 3 Mobility in 2019 within Rimac Group. The startup formally launched in 2024 with €100 million in funding, focusing on building an urban robotaxi ecosystem.
Unlike some competitors, Verne is not developing its own self-driving system. Instead, it is focused on electric vehicle design, ride-hailing software and backend fleet operations such as maintenance and cleaning.
The company ultimately plans to deploy purpose-built two-seater robotaxi EVs, which will be produced at a new facility in Lučko, Croatia. For now, its initial rollout will rely on Pony.ai’s Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicles, which users can book via Uber or Verne’s app.
Verne has already developed and tested 60 prototype vehicles and aims to scale to a fleet of thousands of robotaxis in the coming years, expanding beyond Zagreb into other European markets.
“Europe needs autonomous mobility that can move from testing to a real service,” said Verne CEO Marko Pejkovic. “At Verne, we are bringing together the technology, platform, and operational capabilities required to make this a reality, starting in Zagreb before expanding to new markets.”
The move reflects growing momentum in the robotaxi sector as companies transition from pilot projects to real-world deployment across global cities.
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