Uber and Pony.ai launch first European robotaxi service in Zagreb

Uber, Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai, and Croatian startup Verne have launched the first commercial robotaxi service in Europe, starting in Zagreb, Croatia. Users can now book autonomous rides directly through the Uber app in designated areas of the city, including the city center.

The service utilizes Pony.ai’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology. In this initial phase, each vehicle includes a licensed safety operator to monitor the ride, with the goal of eventually transitioning to fully driverless operations. Verne acts as the fleet owner and service operator, while Uber provides the booking and payment infrastructure.

This launch is part of a larger strategic expansion. The partners plan to deploy a fleet of over 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities. Additionally, Pony.ai has announced an overseas pipeline of more than 4,000 planned robotaxi deployments covering Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Pony.ai reported significant growth in its robotaxi segment, with revenue surging 691 percent year-on-year in its second quarter of 2026.