Gasgoo Munich- On April 8, Pony.ai rolled out a commercial Robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with autonomous mobility operator Verne and global ride-hailing platform Uber, marking what the companies describe as Europe's first publicly accessible Robotaxi deployment. Residents in the Croatian capital can now book rides through Verne's app, with integration into Uber's platform planned for a later stage.
Image source: Pony.ai
In its initial phase, the service covers roughly 90 square kilometers, including central Zagreb and the city's airport, and operates daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The companies plan to gradually expand the coverage area to encompass the entire city.
Notably, the launch comes just two weeks after the partnership was announced, underscoring Pony.ai's ability to rapidly deploy its autonomous driving system in new markets. The move also advances the company's “dual-engine” strategy, which combines technological development with commercial scaling. Following recent progress in achieving unit-car-level breakeven for its seventh-generation Robotaxi fleet in major Chinese cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Pony.ai is now extending its commercial footprint into Europe to test the adaptability and scalability of its technology and business model across diverse regulatory and operating environments.
Pony.ai's founder and CEO, Peng Jun, described the Zagreb rollout as a milestone in the company's global expansion, highlighting its significance as a landmark Robotaxi deployment in Europe. He indicated that the company will continue working with partners to build scalable operations and deliver safe and reliable autonomous mobility services worldwide.
Verne co-founder and CEO Marko Pejković characterized the launch as a long-awaited step for Europe's autonomous mobility sector, noting that it fulfills earlier commitments to bring a commercial Robotaxi service to Zagreb by 2026.
The speed of deployment also reflects the flexibility of Pony.ai's autonomous driving system in navigating varying regulatory and operational conditions. Central to the model is a collaborative fleet approach: Pony.ai supplies the validated self-driving technology and operational expertise, Verne manages fleet ownership and day-to-day operations, and Uber connects the service to its global ride-hailing network. This division of roles enables efficient integration of resources and capabilities, forming a scalable and replicable pathway for Robotaxi commercialization.
As Pony.ai accelerates its global push, the company expects its dual-engine strategy and collaborative fleet model to drive economies of scale and support replication across multiple regions. It is targeting a fleet of 3,000 operational Robotaxis by the end of 2026.
The company has already made incremental progress across key international markets. In Europe, it has conducted public road testing in Luxembourg alongside the Zagreb rollout. In the Middle East, it has secured permits for testing in the United Arab Emirates and launched commercial services in Qatar. In Asia, Pony.ai is running open-road tests in Seoul and has begun passenger-carrying operations in Singapore, steadily expanding its global footprint.
