A Croatian electric vehicle entrepreneur is quietly building a robotaxi empire that could reshape how autonomous vehicles reach Europe. Verne, a startup founded by Mate Rimac (the visionary behind the Rimac Group hypercar empire), has partnered with Uber and Chinese autonomous driving company Pony AI to launch commercial robotaxi services in Zagreb, Croatia, marking the first major European expansion for Pony AI and a significant test of whether non-American companies can compete in the autonomous vehicle space. Who Is Verne and Why Should You Care? Verne isn't a household name like Waymo or Tesla, but it represents a fundamentally different approach to robotaxis. Rather than building everything in-house, Verne is assembling a coalition of specialized partners. The company focuses on three core competencies: designing purpose-built electric vehicles, managing the ride-hailing app and user experience, and handling fleet operations like cleaning and maintenance. This modular approach contrasts sharply with Waymo's vertically integrated model, where the company controls nearly every aspect of its robotaxi operation. Mate Rimac, who holds a 23 percent stake in the Rimac Group ecosystem, started working on electric robotaxis seven years ago. His vision was never to build high-volume consumer electric vehicles for human drivers. Instead, he believed autonomous vehicle technology would eventually make that business obsolete, so he pivoted to robotaxis as the logical evolution of his company's expertise in electric powertrains and advanced technology. How Does the Uber-Pony AI-Verne Partnership Actually Work? - Pony AI's Role: The Chinese autonomous driving company supplies both the self-driving software and the robotaxi hardware, a vehicle called the Arcfox Alpha T5 developed in partnership with Chinese automaker BAIC Motor Corp. - Verne's Role: The Croatian startup owns and operates the fleet, manages the ride-hailing infrastructure, and will eventually produce its own purpose-built two-seater electric vehicles at a new factory in Lučko, Croatia, expected to begin operations later this year. - Uber's Role: The ride-hailing giant provides its vast network and user base, allowing passengers to book robotaxis through the Uber app alongside Verne's own application. Uber has also committed to an undisclosed investment in Verne and will serve as a strategic partner for future expansion. This three-way split of responsibilities is notable because it allows each company to focus on what it does best. Pony AI doesn't need to worry about fleet management or app development. Verne doesn't need to build autonomous driving software from scratch. And Uber gets access to robotaxi services without the massive capital expenditure of developing its own autonomous technology. What Makes This Launch Different From Waymo's Approach? Waymo has spent years perfecting its robotaxi service in select US cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, building custom vehicles and controlling every layer of the operation. The company's strategy prioritizes deep market penetration and operational perfection before expanding geographically. Verne's approach is the opposite. The company is starting with a commercial launch in Zagreb using an off-the-shelf vehicle (the Arcfox Alpha T5) and leveraging Uber's existing infrastructure to scale quickly across Europe. On-road testing in Zagreb is already underway, and the companies plan to launch commercial service "soon," though they haven't announced a specific date. The initial rollout will use Pony AI's Arcfox vehicles, but Verne's long-term vision is to transition to its own purpose-built two-seater electric robotaxis. The company has already produced and tested 60 verification prototypes of these vehicles as of November 2024. "Europe needs autonomous mobility that can move from testing to a real service," stated Marko Pejkovic, CEO of Verne. "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." Marko Pejkovic, CEO at Verne Why Is Europe the Battleground for Robotaxis Now? The US robotaxi market is increasingly crowded, with Waymo, Tesla's Full Self-Driving, Cruise, and others competing for dominance. Europe, by contrast, remains largely untapped. Verne's launch in Zagreb signals that the real competition for robotaxi supremacy may shift eastward and westward from Silicon Valley. The company has explicitly stated it plans to scale to "a fleet of thousands of robotaxis over the next few years" and expand beyond Zagreb to new European markets. This expansion also reflects a broader trend: Chinese autonomous vehicle companies like Pony AI are aggressively pursuing international partnerships to bypass regulatory hurdles and gain market access. By partnering with a local European startup and Uber, Pony AI gains credibility and operational expertise it might not have developed on its own. For Verne, the partnership provides immediate access to proven autonomous driving technology and a global ride-hailing platform. What's the Practical Impact for Passengers and Cities? For Zagreb residents, the launch means access to driverless transportation without waiting for Waymo or another US-based company to eventually expand into the region. The service will be available through both the Verne app and Uber, giving users flexibility in how they book rides. The initial fleet will use the Arcfox Alpha T5, a four-seater vehicle, though Verne's long-term vision includes smaller, purpose-built two-seater vehicles optimized for urban robotaxi operations. For other European cities, Verne's success in Zagreb could accelerate robotaxi adoption across the continent. If the partnership proves operationally sound and regulators approve the service, other cities may fast-track their own autonomous vehicle programs. The announcement also demonstrates that robotaxi development isn't exclusively an American phenomenon; European entrepreneurs and Chinese technology companies are equally capable of building competitive autonomous mobility services. The Verne-Uber-Pony AI partnership represents a significant inflection point in the global robotaxi race. While Waymo remains the most advanced robotaxi operator in the US, the emergence of well-funded, strategically aligned competitors in Europe suggests the next phase of autonomous vehicle adoption will be truly global. For passengers, investors, and cities watching the robotaxi space, Zagreb's launch is a signal that the competition is intensifying, and the winners may not all come from Silicon Valley.
