Uber is gearing up to debut what it claims will be Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service through partnerships with China’s Pony AI and Croatia’s Verne. Testing with autonomous vehicles is already underway in Zagreb, Croatia, with plans to extend the service across additional European cities in the near future. Uber will supply the ride-hail platform and user base, Verne will oversee fleet operations, and Pony AI will provide the self-driving technology.
Details of Uber’s Europe robotaxi partnership with Pony AI and Verne
The pilot uses Pony AI’s Arcfox Alpha T5 robotaxi, equipped with the company’s seventh-generation autonomous driving stack, developed alongside Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC). This collaboration marks a significant step as Uber seeks to secure its role in an evolving transportation environment where robotaxis could disrupt traditional ride-hailing services and impact its core business model.
Competition in Europe’s autonomous vehicle sector
Uber is not alone in the race to deploy autonomous taxis across Europe. Alphabet’s Waymo plans to launch a robotaxi service in London by 2026, while Volkswagen’s Moia subsidiary is planning a similar rollout in Germany. Meanwhile, Uber is also experimenting with self-driving vehicles in Germany through a partnership with Momenta. These moves highlight the intensifying competition in Europe’s emerging autonomous vehicle sector.
Verne’s autonomous fleet and Uber’s robotaxi expansion plans
Verne, initially a Rimac spinoff, unveiled a fleet of 60 autonomous vehicle prototypes last year. It remains unclear how many of these prototypes will be integrated into Uber’s forthcoming robotaxi fleet. Uber’s broader strategy points to scaling operations to thousands of robotaxis over the next few years, aiming to maintain its dominance in urban mobility as driverless technology matures.