The Dawn of Autonomous Transit: Pony.ai and Uber Launch Robotaxi Service in Europe

On March 26, 2026, a significant milestone in European transportation was reached as Uber, the Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai, and the Croatian startup Verne announced the launch of the continent's first commercial robotaxi service. Testing is currently underway in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. This development has positioned the city as an unexpected pioneer in the field of driverless mobility.

The partnership relies on a division of expertise among the three companies. Pony.ai is providing its seventh-generation autonomous driving system, known as Gen-7, which has already been successfully deployed on commercial routes across China. The vehicle fleet for this project consists of Arcfox Alpha T5 electric crossovers, which are manufactured by the automotive company BAIC.

Verne is tasked with the operational management of the vehicle fleet and navigating the complex regulatory environment within the European Union. The project has been supported by a substantial EU grant of nearly 180 million euros. This funding underscores the strategic importance of the initiative for the region's technological advancement.

Uber is contributing its extensive global platform to the venture, allowing the service to scale rapidly. Users will be able to request a robotaxi through both the standard Uber app and Verne’s own application. This integration provides a seamless experience for passengers and leverages Uber's massive existing user base.

James Peng, the CEO of Pony.ai, has highlighted the efficiency of the Gen-7 technology, noting that it has already reached profitability in major Chinese cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The company has ambitious plans to expand its fleet to more than 3,000 vehicles by the end of 2026. Notably, half of these autonomous cars are expected to operate in markets outside of China.

Verne, which emerged from the Rimac Group, is currently utilizing Pony.ai’s established technology to accelerate its entry into the market. This allows the company to generate revenue while they continue to develop their own proprietary hardware. At their facility near Zagreb, they are working on a specialized module designed without a steering wheel or pedals.

The partners aim to eventually scale the service to include thousands of vehicles across multiple European cities. For Uber, this collaboration is a vital strategic move to remain competitive in the global robotaxi market. It allows them to combine advanced Chinese technology with European regulatory expertise to challenge rivals like Waymo and Cruise.

Ultimately, this initiative could transform Zagreb into the European equivalent of San Francisco for autonomous vehicle testing. The success of this project would mark a turning point for urban transit across the continent. As the service expands, it may redefine how people perceive and utilize public transportation in the coming years.