Uber aims to launch Europe’s first robotaxi service with Pony AI and Verne
Uber is joining forces with two companies, China’s Pony AI and Croatia’s Verne, to launch what it claims will be Europe’s first commercially available robotaxi service. The vehicles are already being tested in Zagreb, Croatia, where Verne is headquartered, and will soon be available to customers on Uber’s ridehail network.
The announcement is the latest move by Uber to shield itself from the financial blowback of robotaxis potentially overtaking the traditional ridehail business. The company has allied itself with dozens of autonomous vehicle developers over the past year in an attempt to persuade investors that it can survive the impending robotaxi era.
It’s latest partners are Pony AI, which is currently operating autonomous vehicles in a number of Chinese cities, and Verne, which spun off of supercar maker Rimac. Under the terms of the deal, Uber will provide the ridehail network, along with the customers; Verne will manage the fleet; and Pony AI will develop the autonomous driving technology. The first service will be in Zagreb, with more European markets to follow. And the ultimate goal is to scale the fleet to “thousands of robotaxis” over the next few years.
Currently, the companies are validating the technology on the streets of Zagreb using Pony AI’s Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi, equipped with the Chinese company’s 7th generation technology stack. The vehicle was jointly developed and manufactured with state-owned Beijing Automotive Group Co (BAIC). Once the companies start charging fares, they anticipate it being Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service.
As for Verne, there haven’t been many updates since it was first announced as a robotai side project to Rimac. Mate Rimac, the founder and CEO of Rimac Group, showed off a fleet of 60 prototype autonomous vehicles late last year. Whether those vehicles ever end up in Uber’s fleet, though, is an open question.
Uber is joining forces with two companies, China’s Pony AI and Croatia’s Verne, to launch what it claims will be Europe’s first commercially available robotaxi service. The vehicles are already being tested in Zagreb, Croatia, where Verne is headquartered, and will soon be available to customers on Uber’s ridehail network.…
Recent Posts
- Best Buy slashes up to $400 off Apple tech in a limited-time sale — get AirPods, MacBooks, iPads and Apple Watches from $99.99
- The Instagram Plus subscription has officially launched
- Cyberdecks used to look like little laptops, but now they’re getting more personal
- Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney announces questionable national AI strategy
- Kevin O’Leary agrees to downsize massive Utah data center
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023