Pony.ai (NASDAQ:PONY), a global leader in autonomous mobility, and Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) have announced a strategic partnership with the European service operator Verne to launch the first commercial robotaxi service in Europe.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the global expansion of Level 4 autonomous technology, with initial operations slated for Zagreb, Croatia.
The partnership utilizes a synergistic "tri-party" model designed for rapid scalability.
Pony.ai will provide its state-of-the-art Gen-7 autonomous driving system, integrated into the Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi platform.
Verne will serve as the fleet owner and service operator, managing the physical ecosystem and local infrastructure.
Uber will integrate the autonomous service directly into its global ride-hailing app, allowing the robotaxis to complement Verne’s own customer-facing platform.
Deployment work is already underway in Zagreb, including public-road validation and on-road testing to ensure the system's performance in complex European urban environments.
The companies have begun preparations for fare-charging services, positioning Zagreb as the inaugural market for commercial robotaxi operations in Europe.
The long-term vision involves scaling the fleet to thousands of vehicles and expanding into additional European cities.
As part of the agreement, Verne will lead the regulatory approval process to ensure compliance with European safety standards.
Uber has also signaled a deep commitment to the venture, intending to invest in Verne as a strategic partner to support future geographic expansion.