Uber has launched its first autonomous rides in Europe, starting in Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with Pony.ai and Verne. The service allows riders to book a self-driving car directly through the Uber app. For now, every autonomous vehicle on Zagreb's streets comes with a licensed safety operator seated inside, with full driverless operations being the stated goal.
Autonomous Expansion Plans
The partnership between Uber, Pony.ai, and Verne targets the deployment of more than 2,000 Pony.ai robotaxis across five major European cities. Pony.ai has been operating robotaxis in China for several years, accumulating real-world mileage data, and is now bringing that technology into a European urban environment.
Regulatory Framework
Croatia, and Zagreb specifically, appears to have offered a regulatory pathway that larger markets like Germany, France, or the UK have been slower to clear. Verne has benefited from prior European Union funding directed at autonomous vehicle research and development.
