Uber, Verne, and Pony.ai have launched autonomous rides in Zagreb, making the Croatian capital the first European city where users can book a self-driving vehicle through Uber's app. The rollout marks the first time Uber has offered autonomous vehicles in Europe.
The launch splits work three ways: Chinese robotaxi firm Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving technology, Croatian startup Verne operates as fleet owner and service operator, and Uber integrates the service into its ride-hailing platform. The partnership was announced in March, with the companies planning to expand to additional European cities.
Riders book the service by requesting an UberX or Comfort ride through the Uber app, which displays vehicle details and instructions when a self-driving car is available. Service currently operates in key areas including the city center, with geographic coverage expected to expand over time.
During the initial phase, a licensed operator stays on board to monitor the vehicle as the companies work toward fully autonomous operations.
The launch builds on Verne's April debut of what it calls Europe's first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, giving the partners an existing operation to fold into Uber rather than starting fresh. For Pony.ai, the move marks a step into Europe for technology it has mostly deployed in China.
Uber's global head of autonomous mobility operations, Annie Duvnjak, called the launch a first step, with the release framed as gradual and tied to meeting local rules and Uber's safety checks.
