A new partnership between Croatian startup Verne, ride-hailing giant Uber, and Chinese autonomous vehicle firm Pony.ai will bring fully driverless taxi services to Europe, starting in Zagreb, Croatia. This collaboration marks a significant step toward widespread autonomous mobility, leveraging Pony.ai’s self-driving technology, Verne’s operational expertise, and Uber’s established global network.
The Rise of Autonomous Ride-Hailing
The joint venture reflects a growing trend: Chinese autonomous vehicle companies seeking opportunities in Europe as they face increasing restrictions in the US market. Pony.ai has previously partnered with European ride-hailing app Bolt, and major US players like Waymo and Uber are already testing robotaxis in London and Madrid. This expansion highlights the accelerating global race to deploy self-driving technology commercially.
How Robotaxis Work
Self-driving vehicles rely on a combination of sensors, sophisticated software, and precise actuators to navigate roads. Pony.ai’s Gen-7 system, which will power the fleet, uses machine learning and deep learning to interpret real-world scenarios and make driving decisions. The robotaxis being tested in Zagreb are built on the Arcfox Alpha T5 platform.
Strategic Partnerships and Expansion Plans
Verne will own and operate the robotaxi fleet, while Uber will invest in the startup and integrate the service into its existing ride-hailing app. This synergy allows for faster deployment and wider accessibility. According to Verne CEO Marko Pejkovic, “Europe needs autonomous mobility that can move from testing to a real service,” and this partnership is designed to deliver exactly that.
The companies have not yet announced a firm launch date, but regulatory approvals are already being pursued. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi emphasized that this is “an important step toward making autonomous ride-hailing available to more riders in more places.” The initiative is expected to expand beyond Zagreb as soon as possible.
This collaboration signals that fully autonomous ride-hailing is no longer a distant future concept but a rapidly approaching reality. The project also demonstrates how global partnerships are accelerating the deployment of this disruptive technology.
