Verne Launches Europe’s First Commercial Robotaxi Service

Autonomous mobility company Verne, spun out of electric hypercar maker Rimac, now allows the public to book and pay for driverless rides through its app.

The service uses autonomous driving technology from Pony.ai and will also be integrated with the Uber platform through a partnership. Verne operates the fleet, Uber provides platform access, and Pony.ai supplies the self-driving technology.

The current service area covers key districts of Zagreb, with plans for further expansion across the city.

The initial rollout uses electric vehicles equipped with Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system. While the vehicles operate autonomously, trained safety operators are still present onboard during the early phase.

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The companies plan to transition toward fully driverless operations subject to regulatory approval and performance in safety and reliability testing.

The launch follows years of development and coordination with regulators positioning Zagreb ahead of other European cities pursuing similar robotaxi deployments.

Croatia becoming the first European market for commercial robotaxis is notable as larger countries have also been advancing similar programs. Companies such as Waymo are targeting London while Germany is also home to multiple autonomous vehicle initiatives.

Verne has local roots in Zagreb, having been spun out of the Rimac Group. Its close ties with local regulators are believed to have supported development and deployment.

Beyond Croatia, Verne is in discussions with 11 cities across the EU, the UK, and the Middle East, with more than 30 additional cities under consideration.

The company also plans to launch a purpose-built two-seat autonomous vehicle designed specifically for driverless ride-hailing services.

“For the first time in Europe there is a real commercial robotaxi service. People can use it and take real autonomous rides,” said Marko Pejković, Co-Founder and CEO executive of Verne. “We said we would launch in Zagreb in 2026. Today, we did. This is just the start.”

About Verne

Verne is a European autonomous mobility company founded in 2019 building an integrated ecosystem for driverless travel. It focuses on vehicle design, infrastructure and digital experience to enable autonomous journeys. Inspired by Jules Verne the company aims to advance society through innovation and next generation mobility solutions.