Verne prepared to return 89.7 million euros following robotaxi project deadline

Verne Mate Rimac robotaxi National Recovery and Resilience Plan autonomous vehicles

Verne, the company led by Mate Rimac, has announced it is prepared to return 89.7 million euros in advance payments from Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO) if a final evaluation determines that contractual obligations were not met. The robotaxi project officially reached its deadline on August 30, 2026.

Reports indicate that the project failed to meet a key requirement: the development of a proprietary level 5 autonomous vehicle. Consequently, Verne has shifted its business model to become a fleet operator utilizing technology from partners such as Uber and Chinese firms. While the company has successfully delivered autonomous electric vehicle prototypes and established necessary regulations, it has reportedly only justified 8.7 million euros of the disbursed funds.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković acknowledged the project's failure to meet the deadline but stated that the state had fulfilled its prerequisites, including infrastructure and legal changes. He emphasized that the failure was beyond the state's control and maintained that this single incident would not jeopardize other EU funds allocated to Croatia.

Entities

Andrej Plenković · Croatia · European Commission · European Union · Mate Rimac · Project 3 Mobility · SAFU · Verne

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Verne changed its business model to a fleet operator using Chinese and Uber technology instead of developing its own vehicle. www.monitor.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Plenković expects that 404 out of 406 projects under the NPOO will be fully completed.
[● 3 SOURCES] Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated that the state fulfilled all necessary prerequisites, including infrastructure and legal changes. vojvodjanskireporter.rs · avto-magazin.metropolitan.si
[○ 1 SOURCE] Of the funds disbursed, the company has only justified 8.7 million euros. www.monitor.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Project 3 Mobility (Verne) was approved for 179.5 million euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO). www.monitor.hr · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · avto-magazin.metropolitan.si
[○ 1 SOURCE] The key requirement to develop a proprietary level 5 autonomous vehicle was not fulfilled. www.monitor.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Croatia has received 7.3 billion euros in funds from the NPOO to date. pogled.ba
[○ 1 SOURCE] Plenković claimed the failure to meet the deadline was beyond the state's control.
[● 9 SOURCES] Verne is prepared to return 89.7 million euros in advances if an evaluation shows contractual obligations were not met. pogled.ba · financije.hr · www.dnevno.hr · lidermedia.hr · avto-magazin.metropolitan.si · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The robotaxi project officially reached its deadline on August 30, 2026. pogled.ba · financije.hr · www.dnevno.hr · lidermedia.hr · avto-magazin.metropolitan.si · +2 more