Uber enters Rimčev Verne, robot taxis start up in Zagreb. The company Pony.AI is involved in everything

Verne will be the owner of the fleet and the operator of the service, Pony.ai will provide the solution for autonomous driving, while Uber will integrate the service into its global network for ordering transport, which will be an additional option with the Verne application, according to the announcement.

Together, the companies want to build a path towards a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, and eventually in additional European and international markets, with plans to expand to a fleet of a thousand autonomous vehicles in the coming years, they state.

As part of the cooperation between have started testing on the roads in Zagreb, using the Pony.ai Gen-7 autonomous driving system.
Verne will lead the process of market launch of the service and obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, while coordinating the deployment of robotaxi vehicles within the commercial networks of Verne and Uber vehicles. This approach ensures security and a harmonized user experience and sets a scalable framework for expanding to additional markets. As part of the partnership, Uber also intends to invest in Verne and support its future expansion as a strategic partner.

– Europe needs autonomous mobility that can transition from testing to a real commercial service – said Marko Pejkovi, CEO of Verne. “Verne connects the technology, platform and operational capabilities needed to make it a reality, first in Zagreb, and then in other markets.”

“Through a strong ecosystem of partnerships, autonomous mobility can scale globally and more efficiently,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. “By bringing together the proven autonomous driving technology of Pony.ai, the operational and marketing experience of Verne and the global platform of Uber, we are taking an important step towards making autonomous taxis available to more passengers in more locations.”
“The partnership with Uber and Verne represents an important step forward in the spread of autonomous mobility on a global scale,” said Dr. James Peng, founder of the č and CEO of Pony.ai.

– In China, our Gen-7 achieved a high commercial level, with positive business in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which shows the readiness of our technology and business model. Thanks to this experience, we believe that we are well positioned to accelerate commercialization on an international level, combining our technology with the global platform of Uber and Verne, which will enable implementation in multiple markets. We believe that with this approach we will build a scalable and sustainable ecosystem of autonomous mobility.”