Europe’s First Commercial Robotaxi Service Launches in Zagreb
April 8, 2026 – 4:54 pm
Verne, an autonomous mobility company spun out of Croatian hypercar maker Rimac, has launched commercial robotaxi rides in Zagreb, Croatia. Alongside Pony.ai and Uber, the service began on April 8th with vehicles operating autonomously, though safety operators are present for now. Waymo aims to introduce fully driverless operations in London by Q4 2026.
Verne, an autonomous mobility company spun out of Croatian electric hypercar maker Rimac Group, has introduced what it claims as Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia. Since April 8th, members of the public can book and pay for autonomous rides through the Verne app. The service will soon be available via the Uber platform following a partnership announced on March 26th between Verne, Pony.ai, and Uber.
The vehicles in operation are Arcfox Alpha T5 robotaxis equipped with Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system. While they navigate autonomously, trained safety operators remain onboard during this initial phase of deployment. The companies have expressed their goal to transition to fully driverless operations as soon as regulatory approvals and safety benchmarks allow.
This development is notable for its geographical focus. Zagreb, with a population under one million, stands in contrast to the larger western markets where most autonomous mobility efforts have centered. Waymo has announced plans for a fully driverless service in London by Q4 2026, and Germany has hosted several competing programs over the years.
Verne’s Croatian origins play a role in this success. The company has engaged extensively with Zagreb’s regulators and local authorities, facilitated by its connection to Rimac, which is headquartered in the city and represents one of Croatia’s most prominent tech companies.
Marko Pejković, Verne’s co-founder and CEO, stated, "We said we would launch in Zagreb in 2026. Today, we did. This is just the start."
Verne’s initial service utilizes Pony.ai’s technology rather than its in-house platform, which is still under development. The company initially planned to use Mobileye’s autonomous driving system before switching to Pony.ai for this launch. Verne has a factory near Zagreb expected to begin producing its own purpose-built robotaxi this year—a compact two-seat vehicle designed from the ground up for driverless ride-hailing, devoid of a steering wheel or pedals.
The Arcfox Alpha T5 deployment serves as a transitional measure while the dedicated vehicle reaches production readiness. Beyond Zagreb, Verne has initiated discussions with 11 cities across Europe, the UK, and the Middle East, with over 30 additional cities under active consideration.