Croatian robot taxi startup Verna, Pony.ai, which develops autonomous driving technologies, and Uber Technologies today announced a strategic partnership with the aim of launching the first commercial robot taxi service in Europe, which will premiere in Zagreb – soon, they say.
Testing is already underway
The three companies will collaborate to launch a commercial robotaxi service, combining Pony.ai’s autonomous driving system, Uber’s global mobility platform, and Verne’s system and operating model. Verne will own the fleet and operate the service, Pony.ai will provide the autonomous driving solution, while Uber will integrate the service into its global ride-hailing network, which will be an additional option with the Verne app.
Together, the partners want to build a path towards a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, and eventually in additional European and international markets, with plans to expand to a fleet of thousands of autonomous vehicles in the coming years. As part of the collaboration, tests have already begun on the roads in Zagreb, using the Pony.ai Gen-7 autonomous driving system.
Watch Pony.ai’s announcement video:
Verne will lead the process of bringing the service to market and obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, while coordinating the deployment of the robotaxi vehicles within Verne’s and Uber’s commercial vehicle networks. This approach ensures security and a consistent user experience, and sets a scalable framework for expansion into additional markets. As part of the partnership, Uber also intends to invest in Verne and support future expansion as a strategic partner.
Partner statements
“Europe needs autonomous mobility that can move from testing to real commercial service,” he said Marko PejkovicCEO of Verne. “Verne connects the technology, platform and operational capabilities needed to make it a reality, first in Zagreb, and then in other markets”.
“Through a strong ecosystem of partnerships, autonomous mobility can be scaled globally and more efficiently,” he said Dara KhosrowshahiCEO of Uber. “By bringing together Pony.ai’s proven autonomous driving technology, Verne’s operational and market experience, and Uber’s global platform, we are taking an important step toward making autonomous taxis available to more passengers in more locations.”
“The partnership with Uber and Verne represents an important step forward in the spread of autonomous mobility on a global scale,” said Dr. James Pengfounder and CEO of Pony.ai. “In China, our Gen-7 has achieved a high commercial level, with positive business in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which shows the readiness of our technology and business model. Thanks to this experience, we believe that we are well positioned to accelerate commercialization at the international level, combining our technology with the global platform of Uber and Verne that will enable implementation in more markets. We believe that with this approach we will build a scalable and sustainable ecosystem of autonomous mobility.”