Finance
Uber, Pony.ai and Verne Team up to Launch Europe's First Robotaxi Service in Croatia
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
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Uber, Pony.ai and Verne have announced Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service, launching in Zagreb in 2026. Pony.ai supplies autonomous driving tech, Verne owns and operates the fleet, and Uber integrates the service into its app.
Uber, Pony.ai and Verne Unveil Europe’s First Robotaxi Service in Croatia
Launch of Commercial Robotaxi Operations in Zagreb
Partnership Structure and Roles
March 26 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies has partnered with Pony.ai and autonomous vehicle startup Verne to roll out the first commercial robotaxi service in Europe, with operations set to start in the Croatian capital Zagreb.
Under the deal, Chinese robotaxi firm Pony.ai will supply the autonomous driving technology, while Croatian startup Verne will serve as the fleet owner and manage day-to-day operations, the companies said on Thursday.
Integration with Ride-Hailing Platforms
Uber will integrate the service into its global ride-hailing platform, operating alongside Verne's own customer-facing app.
Expansion Plans and Strategic Investments
Scaling Robotaxi Services Across Europe
The companies "aim to build a scalable path toward commercial robotaxi services in Zagreb and, over time, potentially into additional European cities and other markets, with plans to scale to a fleet of thousands of robotaxis over the next few years," the statement said.
Uber’s Investment and Support
Uber will also invest in Verne, named after French writer Jules Verne, and support its expansion as a strategic partner, as part of the deal.
Testing, Regulatory Approval, and Deployment
On-Road Testing and Service Preparation
The trio has already started on-road testing in Zagreb, with preparations for fare-charging services underway.
Regulatory Approval and Platform Coordination
Verne will spearhead efforts to obtain European regulatory approval for launches and coordinate the deployment of Pony.ai's robotaxis throughout Verne and Uber's platforms.
Uber’s Broader Autonomous Vehicle Strategy
Uber has amassed partnerships with nearly two dozen autonomous vehicle technology companies across every use case, from robotaxis and trucking to sidewalk delivery robots and drones, as it looks to capitalize on rising interest in driverless taxis.
(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
Key Takeaways
- •Pony.ai provides Level‑4 autonomous driving tech to power the robotaxis, marking its first commercial use in Europe alongside tests and operations in China and Luxembourg (lemonde.fr).
- •Verne, a Croatian startup backed by €100M in private Series A funding and EU grants, is building both the robotaxi fleet and the supporting factory and ‘Mothership’ infrastructure near Zagreb (letsverne.com).
- •Uber brings the new service onto its global ride‑hailing platform, following similar partnerships with Momenta and WeRide, as it broadens its autonomous vehicle footprint across Europe and the Middle East (techcrunch.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Uber, Pony.ai and Verne team up to launch Europe's first robotaxi service in Croatia
1Which companies are collaborating to launch the first robotaxi service in Europe?
Uber, Pony.ai, and Verne have partnered to launch the first commercial robotaxi service in Europe, starting in Zagreb, Croatia.
2What roles will Uber, Pony.ai, and Verne play in the robotaxi service?
Pony.ai will provide autonomous driving technology, Verne will manage the fleet and operations, and Uber will integrate the service into its platform.
3Where will the commercial robotaxi service first launch?
The robotaxi service will first launch in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
4What are the expansion plans for the robotaxi service in Europe?
The companies plan to scale the fleet to thousands of robotaxis and potentially expand to additional European cities and other markets.
5How will regulatory approval for the robotaxi service be managed?
Verne will lead efforts to obtain European regulatory approval and coordinate deployment across both Verne and Uber platforms.
