Together with Pony.ai and Verne
Uber brings robotaxi service to Europe
Pony.ai provides the autonomous driving system, Verne acts as fleet owner and operator.
Verne
Uber is launching its first robotaxi service in Europe together with Pony.ai and Verne. Public road validation is underway in Zagreb, with plans to scale the service to thousands of vehicles.
Uber is taking its next step in autonomous mobility.
Together with Chinese autonomous driving specialist
Pony.ai and platform operator Verne, the company is working to establish a commercial robotaxi service in Europe,
starting in Zagreb.
The Croatian capital is set to become the first testing
ground, where initial validation on public roads is already underway. The goal
is clear: move beyond pilot programmes and build a scalable, market-ready
service for European cities.
How the partnership is structured
Each partner contributes a defined role within the
ecosystem. Pony.ai provides the autonomous driving
system, currently based on its seventh-generation platform. Verne acts
as fleet owner and operator, taking responsibility for deployment and
regulatory approval in the European market. Uber integrates the service into
its global ride-hailing platform, expanding its existing mobility offering.
Verne is currently preparing the regulatory framework
required for a fully commercial, paid robotaxi service. The launch in Zagreb is
intended to pave the way for broader deployment across Europe.
Uber is also planning a strategic investment in Verne to
support fleet expansion and long-term scaling.
Why Zagreb is the starting point
Uber, Pony.ai and Verne robotaxi partnership: key facts at a glance
- Partners: Uber, Pony.ai, Verne
- Location: Zagreb, Croatia (initial deployment)
- Status: Public road validation underway
- Goal: Fully commercial robotaxi service
- Technology: Pony.ai Gen-7 autonomous driving system
- Roles: Pony.ai (technology), Verne (fleet/operator), Uber (platform)
- Strategy: Scale to thousands of vehicles
- Expansion: Additional European cities planned
- Investment: Uber to invest in Verne
- Context: Part of Uber’s global robotaxi expansion strategy
The project reflects a broader shift in the industry: moving
from controlled pilot environments to real-world, revenue-generating services.
For Pony.ai, the expansion into
Europe builds on experience gained in Chinese cities such as Guangzhou and
Shenzhen, where robotaxi services have already demonstrated operational
scalability.
Verne positions autonomous mobility as a core element of
future urban transport systems, aiming to translate tested technologies into
commercially viable services.
Uber, meanwhile, continues to expand its multi-partner
strategy in autonomous mobility. The company recently announced a large-scale
robotaxi partnership with Rivian in the United States, targeting up to 50,000
autonomous vehicles over the coming years.
From pilot to scalable robotaxi networks
The long-term ambition of the partnership is to scale the
service to thousands of vehicles. Zagreb represents the first step, with
additional European cities expected to follow once regulatory approval and
operational stability are achieved.
This approach reflects a broader industry trend. Autonomous mobility is no longer defined by isolated
pilot projects, but by the ability to integrate technology, operations and
platforms into scalable ecosystems.
For Uber, Pony.ai and Verne, the European rollout is
therefore not just a regional expansion. It is a test case for how robotaxi
services can move from experimentation to large-scale deployment.
