- by croatiaweek
- April 8, 2026
- in
(Photo: Verne)
ZAGREB, 8 April 2026 – Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service has officially launched in Zagreb.
Croatian mobility company Verne announced today that members of the public can now book and pay for fully autonomous rides through the Verne mobile app.
The service uses autonomous technology developed by Pony.ai and represents the first time a commercial robotaxi service has been made available to the public anywhere in Europe.
The launch follows several years of development and close collaboration with regulators, positioning Zagreb and Croatia at the forefront of autonomous mobility in Europe.
“For the first time in Europe there is a real commercial robotaxi service. People can use it and take real autonomous rides,” said Verne co-founder and CEO Marko Pejković.
“We said we would launch in Zagreb in 2026. Today, we did. This is just the start.”
Initial rollout in Zagreb
The first phase of the service will operate using electric vehicles equipped with Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system.
During the early stage of deployment, trained autonomous vehicle operators will remain onboard the vehicles while the system is monitored in real-world conditions.
The initial service zone will cover key districts of the Croatian capital, with plans already in place to expand coverage across the city in the coming months.
The companies say the goal is to transition to fully driverless operations as soon as possible, once the service meets all required safety and reliability standards and receives the necessary regulatory approvals.
Partnership with Uber
The robotaxi service will initially be available through the Verne app. However, Verne confirmed that rides will soon also be accessible through the Uber app following a recently announced strategic partnership between Verne, Pony.ai and Uber.
The collaboration is expected to significantly expand the reach of autonomous ride-hailing services in the region.
(Photo: Verne)
Expansion plans
Beyond Zagreb, Verne has already begun permit discussions with 11 cities across the European Union, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. The company is also evaluating more than 30 additional cities as part of its long-term expansion strategy.
Looking ahead, Verne also plans to deploy its own purpose-built autonomous vehicle, a compact two-seat robotaxi specifically designed for driverless ride-hailing.