Croatia has officially launched Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service, marking a major milestone for autonomous transportation on the continent. The service began operations in the capital city of Zagreb through Croatian mobility startup Verne, in partnership with Uber and self-driving technology firm Pony.ai.
The rollout currently includes a fleet of 10 autonomous electric vehicles operating across key districts of Zagreb, including routes connected to Zagreb Airport. Customers can book rides using the Verne mobile app, while Uber integration is expected in the coming months.
According to company officials, the vehicles are equipped with advanced sensors, lidar systems, cameras, and AI-powered navigation software designed to safely handle city traffic. For the initial phase, safety operators remain inside the vehicles while regulators monitor performance before a planned transition to fully driverless operations by the end of 2026.
The launch places Croatia among the global leaders in autonomous mobility, joining countries such as the United States and China where robotaxi services already operate commercially. Industry analysts say the Zagreb project could become a testing ground for wider European deployment as companies race to expand self-driving transport across major cities. News as Reported.
