Pony.ai, Uber, and Verne are partnering to launch Europe's first commercial robotaxi service.
The service will begin operations in Zagreb, Croatia, in the second half of 2025.
Fully driverless NIO ET7 vehicles will be available for hire via the Uber app.
The initiative serves as a strategic entry into the EU market and a test for wider expansion.
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Autonomous vehicle technology company Pony.ai, in partnership with ride-hailing giant Uber and urban mobility firm Verne, will launch Europe's first commercial robotaxi service in Croatia, with operations commencing in the capital city of Zagreb in the second half of 2025. The initiative aims to introduce a fully driverless, commercially available ride-hailing service to the European market, marking a significant step in the continent's adoption of autonomous vehicle technology for public use.
The service will initially deploy a fleet of autonomous vehicles based on the NIO ET7 model, equipped with Pony.ai's proprietary self-driving system. These vehicles will operate on Uber's widely used app platform, allowing users in Zagreb to hail a robotaxi just as they would a standard ride. The partnership leverages each company's core strengths: Pony.ai's advanced autonomous driving technology, Uber's massive consumer network and operational expertise, and Verne's focus on designing user-centric mobility experiences and navigating the European regulatory landscape.
This launch represents a strategic entry point into the European Union's mobility sector. Croatia, with its supportive regulatory framework for testing and deploying autonomous vehicles, provides a viable proving ground. Success in Zagreb could pave the way for expansion into other major European cities. The move also signals intensifying global competition in the autonomous ride-hailing sector, challenging other players like Waymo and Cruise, and testing consumer readiness for driverless transportation in a new regional market.
Zagreb ( ZAH-greb; Croatian: [zǎːɡreb] ) is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Slovenia at an elevation of approximately 1...
Uber Technologies, Inc. is an American multinational transportation company that provides ride-hailing services, courier services, food delivery, and freight transport. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and operates in approximately 70 countries and 15,000 cities worldwide.
