Pony.ai, Verne and Uber partner to roll out robotaxi service in Zagreb

Autonomous driving specialist Pony.ai has teamed up with mobility operator Verne and ride-hailing giant Uber to launch a robotaxi service in Zagreb, marking what the companies describe as a first step toward commercial autonomous ride-hailing in Europe.

Testing is already underway in the Croatian capital using Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system, deployed on Arcfox Alpha T5 robotaxis. The partners aim to scale the operation to a fleet of several thousand vehicles over the coming years, with plans to expand into additional European markets.

Under the agreement, Pony.ai will supply its autonomous technology, while Verne will own and operate the fleet and oversee regulatory approvals across Europe. Uber will integrate the service into its platform, alongside Verne’s own app, and is expected to take an investment stake in the operator.

Pony.ai said its latest system has already reached commercial maturity in China, citing breakeven unit economics in cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The collaboration in Zagreb is intended to replicate that model in Europe, combining technology, operations and distribution to accelerate the rollout of autonomous mobility services.