Uber will launch a robotaxi service in Europe through partnerships with China’s Pony AI and Croatia’s Verne, with commercial operations planned to start in Zagreb.
The initiative positions Uber to integrate autonomous vehicles into its European ride-hailing network, potentially mitigating future financial impacts from the robotaxi sector.
The companies are currently testing autonomous vehicles in Zagreb. Uber will provide the ride-hail network, Verne will manage the vehicle fleet, and Pony AI will develop the autonomous driving technology.
Pony AI operates autonomous vehicles in Chinese cities. Verne is a spin-off from supercar manufacturer Rimac.
The system utilizes Pony AI’s Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi, equipped with its 7th generation technology stack. This vehicle was jointly developed with Beijing Automotive Group Co (BAIC).
The companies aim to scale the fleet to “thousands of robotaxis” in the coming years, planning to expand beyond Zagreb to other European markets.
Waymo previously stated intentions to launch a robotaxi service in London in 2026. Uber is also testing self-driving cars with Momenta in Germany. Volkswagen plans an autonomous ridesharing service in Germany via its Moia subsidiary.
Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Group, previously showcased a fleet of 60 prototype autonomous vehicles from Verne.
