Verne, the startup backed by Mate Rimac, has launched Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb. The fleet uses Chinese-built electric SUVs with Pony.ai autonomy tech, costs €1.99 per ride, and currently operates with safety operators onboard during an initial rollout that could later expand to dozens of cities.
Europe has watched autonomous ride-hailing advance in the United States and China for years, but Croatia is now the first country in the European Union to open a commercial robotaxi service. Verne, a startup supported by Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac, has begun operating self-driving taxis in Zagreb.
The launch marks a notable milestone for the region’s mobility sector. While many cities have seen autonomous vehicle demonstrations, this is the first time a commercial robotaxi fleet has been made available to paying customers in Europe.
Flat-rate rides priced to attract attention
Verne is charging a flat €1.99 per trip, or about $2.22. The company is using the low fare to draw early users and build familiarity with the service.
The initial operating area covers roughly 35 square miles (91 square kilometers) in parts of Zagreb, including the city’s international airport. Verne says additional roads will be added later as the rollout expands.
What is in the fleet?
The first-stage fleet consists of 10 electric SUVs based on the Arcfox Alpha T5 from Chinese automaker BAIC. The autonomous driving system is provided by Pony.ai, one of China’s major self-driving technology companies.
Riders can book trips through Verne’s app. The company also plans to add Uber integration later, which could broaden access and increase ride volume.
Access is still tightly controlled. Verne says only 300 users currently have access to the app, while several thousand more are waiting to be verified.
Safety oversight remains in place
Despite the autonomous branding, these robotaxis are not yet fully driverless in practice. Each vehicle currently carries a trained safety operator behind the wheel to comply with local regulations during the early rollout.
Verne expects to remove the human safety driver by the end of the year. Until then, the vehicles are operating with supervision even though much of the driving task is handled by the system itself.
Early reports suggest the tech is handling traffic well
According to AFP reporters who tested the service, the cars handled traffic smoothly, including overtakes and some unexpected road situations. In one reported incident, a vehicle stopped after another driver entered the wrong lane, then issued an apology through its voice assistant.
That kind of response may sound minor, but it helps demonstrate how these systems are being designed to manage real-world driving conditions rather than controlled demonstrations.
Why Verne’s expansion plans matter
Verne’s ambitions extend well beyond Zagreb. The company says it is already in discussions with 11 cities across Europe, the UK, and the Middle East, and that more than 30 additional cities are under evaluation.
The startup also plans to replace the adapted Chinese SUVs eventually with its own purpose-built autonomous pod, a two-seat vehicle that was shown publicly a couple of years ago. If that happens, the company would move from operating a modified existing vehicle to controlling the full hardware and software stack.
Background: a European challenge to U.S. and Chinese momentum
Autonomous taxi development has been far more visible in the U.S. and China, where several companies have spent years building and testing robotaxi networks. Europe has generally moved more slowly because of regulatory complexity, urban road layouts, and public caution around driverless vehicles.
That makes Croatia’s launch significant even if the current service is small. It gives Europe a live commercial reference point for what robotaxi deployment can look like under EU conditions, and it could influence how other cities approach regulation, safety rules, and public acceptance.
What happens next
The key questions now are whether Verne can scale beyond a limited launch area, reduce its reliance on safety operators, and win enough user trust to make the model sustainable. The planned Uber integration and broader city expansion could help, but the service will still need to prove it can operate reliably at larger scale.
For now, Zagreb has become the starting point for Europe’s first commercial robotaxi network, and the rollout will likely be watched closely by regulators, competitors, and city officials across the continent.
Why This Matters
This launch matters because it moves robotaxi technology from demos and pilot projects into a real commercial service inside the European Union. If Verne can operate safely and cheaply in Zagreb, it may create a practical model for other European cities considering autonomous ride-hailing.
The service also highlights a broader shift in the industry: European mobility companies are increasingly relying on Chinese electric vehicle platforms and Chinese autonomy suppliers to get products to market faster. That raises questions about industrial strategy, regulation, and how quickly Europe can build its own autonomous vehicle ecosystem.
Key Specs
- Service: Europe’s first commercial robotaxi fleet
- Operator: Verne, backed by Mate Rimac
- Launch city: Zagreb, Croatia
- Ride price: €1.99 per trip (about $2.22)
- Initial service area: 35 sq miles / 91 sq km
- Fleet size: 10 vehicles
- Vehicle base: Arcfox Alpha T5 electric SUV from BAIC
- Autonomy partner: Pony.ai
- Current access: 300 app users, several thousand awaiting verification
- Safety setup: Human safety operator onboard during rollout
- Planned change: Safety operator removal by end of year [VERIFY]
- Expansion discussions: 11 cities; more than 30 under evaluation
- Future vehicle: Purpose-built two-seat autonomous pod
Source: Carscoops
