Uber, Pony.ai, and Croatian startup Verne have announced a partnership that will launch Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb. The collaboration combines Pony.ai’s Gen‑7 autonomous‑driving system, Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicles built by BAIC Group, Verne’s fleet ownership and operational framework, and Uber’s global ride‑hailing platform, which will integrate the service into its app.
On‑road testing began on March 26, 2026, but a specific commercial launch date has not yet been announced. Uber’s investment in Verne is undisclosed, and Verne’s own purpose‑built two‑seat autonomous pod remains under development. The partnership allows Verne to generate revenue sooner while its hardware matures, and it positions the company to scale to thousands of vehicles across Europe.
The deal is a key step in Uber’s autonomous‑mobility strategy. By partnering with external developers rather than building its own fleet, Uber can quickly add a demand layer for robotaxis on its platform. Dara Khosrowshahi said, "Through a strong ecosystem of partnerships, autonomous mobility can both scale globally and more effectively. By bringing together Pony.ai's proven autonomous driving technology, Verne's operational and market expertise, and Uber's global platform, we're taking an important step toward making autonomous ride‑hailing available to more riders in more places."
For Pony.ai, the Zagreb launch marks its first commercial deployment in Europe and demonstrates the scalability of its Gen‑7 system, which has already achieved unit‑economics breakeven in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Dr. James Peng noted, "The partnership represents an important step in expanding autonomous transport globally. Deploying Gen‑7 Robotaxis for fully‑driverless service across Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing reflects accelerated momentum in our large‑scale commercialization roadmap. With enhanced ride comfort and more intuitive interaction features, Gen‑7 brings fully‑driverless mobility closer to an everyday transportation choice."
Verne’s CEO Marko Pejkovic emphasized the company’s operational role: "Europe needs autonomous mobility that can move from testing to a real service. At Verne, we are bringing together the technology, platform, and operational capabilities required to make this a reality, starting in Zagreb before expanding to new markets." The partnership also provides Verne with a proven vehicle platform while it continues to develop its own pod, positioning it to scale quickly in a market with strict safety and data‑privacy regulations.
The collaboration reflects a broader trend of ride‑hailing platforms partnering with autonomous‑mobility developers to accelerate deployment. Uber’s strategy of building a demand layer through external partnerships aligns with its previous moves, such as selling its ATG unit to Aurora in 2020, and positions the company to capture a share of the nascent European robotaxi market while maintaining flexibility to adapt to regulatory and technological changes.
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