Verne, an autonomous mobility company formed from Croatian hypercar maker Rimac, commenced robotaxi rides in Zagreb on April 8 with Pony.ai and Uber. Currently, the vehicles include safety operators. London is targeted by Waymo for Q4 2026.
Verne, originating from the Rimac Group, has introduced Europe’s first robotaxi service in Zagreb, where rides can be booked and paid for via the Verne app starting April 8. Soon, the service will also be available through Uber, following a partnership among Verne, Pony.ai, and Uber announced on March 26.
The operational vehicles are Arcfox Alpha T5 robotaxis with Pony.ai’s autonomous system, with safety operators present during the early phase. The companies seek full driverless operation following necessary approvals and safety milestones.
The partnership involves Pony.ai supplying the autonomous tech, Verne managing the fleet and local operations, and Uber integrating the service on its platform. Uber also invests in Verne as a strategic partner.
The launch in Zagreb, having fewer than a million residents, is notable as significant efforts in autonomous mobility in Europe have focused on larger western cities. Waymo plans a service in London for 2026, while Germany has been home to several initiatives.
Verne’s connection to Rimac offers insight into its Croatian beginnings. Verne, associated with Zagreb through ties to Rimac, has engaged with authorities over years, facilitated by Rimac’s city presence.
Marko Pejković, Verne’s CEO, said launching fulfills their pledge: “We said we would launch in Zagreb in 2026. Today, we did. This is just the start.”
Verne presently employs Pony.ai technology, with its platform in development. It previously considered using Mobileye’s system before opting for Pony.ai before launch.
Verne is set to begin manufacturing its own robotaxi near Zagreb, a two-seat vehicle without steering or pedals designed for autonomous rides, anticipated this year. The current Arcfox Alpha T5 use is temporary until their vehicle is ready.
Verne has begun talks in 11 European, UK, and Middle Eastern cities, with interest from 30 more cities.
For Pony.ai, listed on Nasdaq in late 2024, this Zagreb launch is its first commercial deployment outside China, where its technology has reached breakeven in two major cities.