In Zagreb today, April 8, 2026, the first commercial robotaxi service in Europe under the Verne brand officially started operating. Users who have previously signed up to the waiting list will be able to book and pay for rides in autonomous vehicles through the Verna application.
To begin with, only those on the waiting list will have access to the robotaxi network, who will receive instructions by e-mail for downloading the application and ordering rides. In the first period, the fixed price of the ride will be 1.99 euros, and the robot taxis will drive from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Vehicles can accommodate up to two passengers.
In this initial phase, the service is available in the area of the wider city center and Zagreb Airport, and an imminent integration with the Uber platform has been announced, through which autonomous driving applications will also be able to be ordered – which is part of a recently signed partnership.
The first in Europe
Croatia was chosen as a starting point because of the favorable regulatory framework that enables the country to be positioned as a leader in the autonomous mobility sector. Marko Pejkovicco-founder and CEO of Verne, highlighted the importance of this moment by emphasizing that for the first time in Europe, citizens can actually use and experience commercial autonomous driving in everyday traffic.
In the initial phase, the Vernea fleet consists of electric vehicles equipped with the seventh generation of Pony.ai’s autonomous driving system. Although the vehicles operate autonomously, during the introductory phase they are equipped with trained safety operators to ensure the maximum level of safety. The company’s plans include a gradual expansion of the service to the rest of Zagreb as soon as the operational conditions are met.
Verne
In addition to technological implementation, the company is actively working on the development of its own dedicated robotaxi. It is a two-seater vehicle, presented to the public two years ago, which from the very beginning was designed exclusively for fully autonomous driving on demand. The complete transition to driverless driving is planned as soon as the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained and all safety standards are confirmed.
The success of the Zagreb model will serve as a basis for further international expansion. Verne has already started formal talks to roll out similar services in 11 cities across the European Union, the United Kingdom and the Middle East.