Pony.ai, Uber and Verne have formed a collaboration to bring the first commercial robotaxi service to Europe, with initial operations set to start in Zagreb, the three companies said on Wednesday.
Under the partnership, Pony.ai will supply its Gen-7 autonomous driving system for use in robotaxi vehicles. Verne will assume responsibility as the fleet owner and day-to-day operator, and will take the lead in efforts to obtain necessary regulatory clearances and to coordinate the wider deployment. Uber will integrate the robotaxi offering into its global ride-hailing app, making the service available to the company’s user base, and plans to invest in Verne to support the planned expansion.
On-road testing using Pony.ai’s system is already running in Zagreb with robotaxi vehicles. The companies said preparations are underway to transition the service from test deployments to fare-charging operations.
The partners characterized the rollout as an important move from testing toward commercial deployment of autonomous mobility in Europe. They noted that regulatory approvals and infrastructure readiness remain critical hurdles for the broader rollout.
Looking beyond the initial launch, the three companies outlined plans to expand the service across additional European cities and to scale the fleet to thousands of robotaxis over the coming years. Verne will lead regulatory engagement and deployment coordination in those markets, while Uber’s app integration is intended to broaden customer access and to support commercial utilization.
The arrangement allocates clear operational roles: Pony.ai supplies the autonomous-driving technology, Verne handles fleet ownership and operations plus regulatory work, and Uber provides platform access and investment support for growth. On-road testing in Zagreb and preparatory steps for fare charging are already in progress as the partners work toward their first commercial service in Europe.
Clear summary: Pony.ai will provide the Gen-7 autonomous system, Verne will own and operate the fleet and drive regulatory clearances, and Uber will integrate the robotaxi offering into its app and invest in Verne. Initial commercial operations are planned to begin in Zagreb, with on-road testing already underway and preparations to start charging fares in progress. The partners plan to scale to thousands of robotaxis across Europe over the coming years, while acknowledging regulatory and infrastructure challenges.