Next Robotaxi Giant? Croatian Startup Backed by Uber Challenges Market Leaders

Mate Rimac, the visionary behind Croatian electric vehicle maker Rimac Group, began working on electric robotaxis seven years ago. Now, part of his vision is coming to fruition through a strategic partnership between Uber, Chinese autonomous vehicle company Pony.ai, and his own robotaxi startup, Verne.

The announcement of this collaboration, including the launch of a commercial robotaxi service in Europe, starting in Zagreb, Croatia, marks a significant milestone. Pony.ai will supply the autonomous driving system and a robotaxi called the Arcfox Alpha T5, developed with Chinese automaker BAIC. Verne will own and operate the fleet, while Uber will provide its vast ride-hailing network.

The ride-hailing giant, Uber, also intends to invest an undisclosed amount in Verne and support future expansion as a strategic partner. While a specific launch date for the commercial service was not provided, on-road testing in Zagreb, where Rimac Group is based, is already underway. This suggests a significant advancement in the implementation of robotaxi technology in the European market.

Verne, though less known than companies like Waymo or Tesla, shares similar ambitions. The startup emerged in 2019 as a project within Rimac Group, a growing ecosystem that includes Rimac Bugatti and Rimac Technology, with Mate Rimac holding a 23% stake.

It wasn't until July 2024, when Verne launched with 100 million euros in funding, that the public got a detailed look at its plans. Rimac's vision has always been for Verne to operate an urban robotaxi service with purpose-built two-seater electric vehicles. This strategy reflects Rimac's belief that autonomous vehicle technology will make human driving obsolete.

Verne is focusing on the urban electric vehicle, the ride-hailing app, and the infrastructure to manage the fleet, including cleaning and maintenance. The production of its electric robotaxis will take place in a new factory in Lučko, Croatia, which is expected to begin operations later this year.

For now, Verne's robotaxi service will use the Pony.ai-BAIC Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicle. Users will be able to hail a vehicle via Uber and also through Verne's own app. The company plans to scale to a "fleet of thousands of robotaxis over the next few years," according to Thursday's announcement. Its aspirations go far beyond the borders of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia and home to Rimac Group.

"Europe needs autonomous mobility that can move from testing to a real service," said Verne CEO Marko Pejkovic, in a statement. "At Verne, we are bringing together the technology, platform, and operational capabilities required to make this a reality, starting in Zagreb before expanding to new markets."

Verne is not developing its own autonomous driving system, but instead focuses on the urban electric vehicle, the ride-hailing app, and the fleet management infrastructure. This includes key aspects such as cleaning and maintenance, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to ensuring an efficient and high-quality service.

The company has produced and tested 60 verification prototypes as of November, indicating significant progress in the development of its vehicles. With ambitious expansion plans and the backing of Uber, Verne is positioning itself as a key competitor in the robotaxi market.