A little-known Croatian startup is coming for the robotaxi market with help fromUber

Croatian startup Verne, founded by Mate Rimac, partners with Uber and Pony.ai to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia. The service will use Pony.ai's autonomous Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicle while Uber offers its ride-hailing network. Although Verne started as a project in 2019, it plans to scale operations significantly, aiming for thousands of robotaxis across Europe in the coming years.

Key Points

• Verne was established as Project 3 Mobility within Rimac Group in 2019.
• Uber partners with Verne to leverage its extensive ride-hailing platform.
• Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving technology and the Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicle.
• Verne is focused on urban electric vehicles, not developing its own self-driving system.
• The commercial service will start in Zagreb, Croatia, with on-road testing currently underway.
• Verne aims to expand to new European markets after initial launch.
• The startup has plans for a factory in Croatia to produce its purpose-built robotaxis.

Relevance

• The rise of robotaxi services aligns with the increasing investment in autonomous vehicle technology globally.
• Verne's initiative mirrors the broader trend toward urban mobility solutions to address transportation challenges.
• Technological advancements, like those from companies like Waymo and Tesla, provide context for market growth and competition.

Verne's collaboration with Uber and Pony.ai marks a pivotal step in the evolution of urban mobility, indicating a significant push towards robotaxi services in Europe, which could redefine transportation as we know it.