Uber, Pony.ai and Croatian startup Verne have launched an autonomous ride service in Zagreb, marking the first time users in a European city can request a self-driving vehicle through Uber’s app. The companies announced the launch on Wednesday, August 19, as part of their broader effort to bring robotaxis to European markets.
The service is initially being made available in selected areas of Zagreb, including the city center. Coverage and availability are expected to be expanded gradually as operations develop, according to the companies.
During the first stage of the rollout, passengers will not be traveling entirely without human supervision. A licensed operator will be present in the vehicle to monitor its operation while the companies work toward achieving fully autonomous rides.
The technology behind the self-driving vehicles is being supplied by Pony.ai, a Chinese company specializing in autonomous driving and robotaxis. Verne, a Croatian startup, is responsible for owning the vehicle fleet and operating the service. Uber is providing access to the vehicles through its existing ride-hailing platform.
The launch follows a partnership announced by the three companies in March. At the time, Uber, Pony.ai and Verne said they intended to develop a robotaxi service in Croatia and eventually extend the model to other European cities.
For passengers in Zagreb, the service has been incorporated into the standard Uber booking process. Riders can request either an UberX or Comfort trip through the Uber application. If an autonomous vehicle is available for the requested journey, the app will provide information about the vehicle as well as instructions for the passenger.
The introduction of autonomous rides in Zagreb represents an important step in the companies’ European expansion plans. Rather than requiring customers to use a separate application for robotaxis, the service is being made accessible through Uber’s established platform.
The companies have not limited the initial service to a single part of Zagreb. Key areas, including the city center, are covered, while additional locations are expected to be added as the service expands. The phased approach also allows the partners to operate with human oversight before moving toward a model in which vehicles can operate without an onboard supervisor.
Pony.ai has been developing autonomous driving systems as robotaxi services have expanded in several markets. Its technology is being used in the Zagreb operation, while Verne is taking responsibility for the local fleet and day-to-day service operations. Uber, meanwhile, is handling the customer-facing side of the service through its ride-hailing application.
The Zagreb launch also gives Uber a foothold in Europe’s emerging autonomous mobility market. The company has increasingly worked with technology partners rather than relying solely on its own autonomous driving systems to introduce self-driving rides in different markets.
The partnership is expected to extend beyond Croatia. Uber, Pony.ai and Verne have said that additional European cities are planned for the service as the rollout progresses. The companies therefore view Zagreb as the starting point for a wider European expansion of autonomous transportation.
For now, the presence of a licensed operator means that the Zagreb service remains a supervised autonomous ride operation rather than a fully driverless service. However, the partners have identified fully autonomous operations as a longer-term objective.
The launch makes Zagreb the first European city where Uber users can directly book a self-driving vehicle through the company’s app, giving the Croatian capital a prominent role in the partners’ plans for expanding autonomous ride-hailing across Europe.
