Croatian startup teams up with Uber to enter the robotaxi market

Mate Rimac, the founder of Croatian electric vehicle maker Rimac Group, began working on electric robotaxis seven years ago. Now, part of that vision is taking shape through a strategic collaboration among Uber, the Chinese autonomous-vehicle firm Pony.ai, and his robotaxi venture Verne.

The three companies revealed plans on Thursday to roll out a commercial robotaxi service in Europe, with the first deployment set for Zagreb. Pony.ai will provide autonomous driving technology along with a robotaxi model, the Arcfox Alpha T5, developed in partnership with Chinese automaker BAIC. Verne will manage and operate the fleet, while Uber will contribute its extensive ride-hailing platform.

Uber also signalled that it plans to invest an undisclosed sum into Verne and back its expansion as a strategic partner.

The companies did not announce an exact launch timeline for the service, although real-world testing is already underway in Zagreb, the home base of Rimac Group.

While Verne may not yet have the brand recognition of Waymo or Tesla — particularly in the U.S. — it is pursuing similarly ambitious goals.

Verne originated in 2019 as Project 3 Mobility (P3), an internal initiative within Rimac Group, which operates a broader ecosystem that includes Bugatti Rimac, Rimac Energy, and Rimac Technology. Mate Rimac owns a 23% stake in the group.

Although updates about the project surfaced occasionally over the years, it wasn’t until July 2024 — when Verne officially launched with €100 million in funding — that its roadmap became clearer to the public.

Mate Rimac, the founder of Rimac Group, began working on electric robotaxis seven years ago. Now, part of that vision is taking shape through a strategic collaboration among Uber, Pony.ai, and his robotaxi venture,e Verne.

The three companies revealed plans on Thursday to roll out a commercial robotaxi service in Europe, with the first deployment set for Zagreb, Croatia. Pony.ai will provide autonomous driving technology along with a robotaxi model, the Arcfox Alpha T5, developed in collaboration with BAIC. Verne will operate the fleet, while Uber will integrate the service into its ride-hailing network.

Uber also indicated it plans to invest an undisclosed amount into Verne and support its future expansion as a strategic partner. No specific launch date has been confirmed, though testing on public roads in Zagreb is already in progress. Verne may not yet match the global recognition of Waymo or Tesla, but its ambitions are just as significant.

The startup began in 2019 as Project 3 Mobility within Rimac Group, which also includes Bugatti Rimac, Rimac Energy, and Rimac Technology. Mate Rimac holds a 23% ownership stake in the group.

While there were periodic updates about the initiative, it wasn’t until July 2024 — when Verne officially launched with €100 million in funding — that its plans were revealed in greater detail.