Pony AI and Uber partner with Verne to launch Europe's first commercial robotaxi service

Uber aims to launch Europe's first robotaxi service with Pony AI and Verne

Uber is joining forces with two companies, China's Pony AI and Croatia's Verne, to launch what it claims will be Europe's first commercially available robotaxi service. The vehicles are already being tested in Zagreb, Croatia, where Verne is headquartered, and will soon be available to customers on Uber's ridehail network. The announcement is the latest move by Uber to shield itself from the financial blowback of robotaxis potentially overtaking the traditional ridehail business. The company has allied itself with dozens of autonomous vehicle developers over the past year in an attempt to persuade investors that it can survive the impending robotaxi era. It's latest partners are Pony AI, which is currently operating autonomous vehicles in a number of Chinese cities, and Verne, which spun off of supercar maker Rimac. Under the terms of the deal, Uber will provide the ridehail network, along with the customers; Verne will manage the fleet; and Pony AI will develop the autonomous driving technology. The first service will be in Zagreb, with more European markets to follow. And the ultimate goal is to scale the fleet to "thousands of robotaxis" over the next few years. Currently, the companies are validating the technology on the streets of Zagreb using Pony AI's Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi, equipped with the Chinese company's 7th generation technology stack. The vehicle was jointly developed and manufactured with state-owned Beijing Automotive Group Co (BAIC). Once the companies start charging fares, they anticipate it being Europe's first commercial robotaxi service. They will have some competition. Waymo has said it intends to launch a robotaxi service in London sometime in 2026. Uber is also testing self-driving cars with Momenta in Germany. And Volkswagen has said it will launch an autonomous ridesharing service under its subsidiary Moia, also in Germany. As for Verne, there haven't been many updates since it was first announced as a robotai side project to Rimac. Mate Rimac, the founder and CEO of Rimac Group, showed off a fleet of 60 prototype autonomous vehicles late last year. Whether those vehicles ever end up in Uber's fleet, though, is an open question.

Pony AI, Uber to Launch Robotaxis in Croatia in Europe Push

Uber plans to work with partners to bring robotaxis to more than 10 markets this year, including Munich and the UK, as part of its goal to be the biggest robotaxi platform. Chinese robotaxi company Pony AI Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. have begun testing driverless cars in Zagreb, Croatia, expanding their partnership beyond the Middle East and into Europe. The companies are preparing for a launch "soon" with locally based startup Verne, which will own and operate a fleet of BAIC Motor Corp.-manufactured Arcfox Alpha T5 robotaxis, equipped with Pony AI's self-driving technology, according to a joint statement on Thursday. The vehicles will first be offered on Verne's app and eventually be available to book on Uber's service. Pony AI, founded nearly a decade ago, is working to expand its global footprint in a bid to boost sales and stem losses. For Uber, the move is part of a bigger bet to include robotaxis alongside its network of human-driven vehicles. The tech giant looks to offer driverless rides in more than 10 markets this year and eventually wants to be the biggest robotaxi platform. The two companies had planned a rollout in the Middle East last year, but that has been postponed. An Uber spokesperson didn't provide a reason for the delay, saying that the effort is still moving forward. Testing on public roads is already underway in the Croatian capital, according to the statement. The partners plan to expand the fleet to thousands over the next few years in additional European cities and other markets. Uber agreed to invest in Verne, which is 47%-owned by Bugatti owner Rimac Group, to support future growth. "Verne will lead the process of ensuring market readiness and obtaining European regulatory approval for these launches," according to the statement. Verne has announced its own ambitions to launch a two-seater robotaxi without a steering wheel in 2026. Such a vehicle would rival Tesla Inc.'s Cybercab, which is slated to go into production this year. Uber doesn't develop its own self-driving technology, having sold off an in-house research unit in 2020. But it has teamed up with more than 20 technology providers and car companies globally, including Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo in the US and China's WeRide Inc. in the United Arab Emirates. That lets it offer self-driving rides through its app -- the approach used in the Pony partnership. In other agreements, Uber will play a bigger role overseeing fleet operations and maintenance. As part of a goal to have driverless rides in more than 10 markets this year, Uber plans to work with partners to bring robotaxis to Munich and the UK.

Pony.ai Teams With Uber on Robotaxis as Revenues Surge 160% | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The project is slated to get underway soon in the Croatian capital of Zagreb soon, with initial development work already happening, Pony.ai announced Thursday (March 26). "The three companies plan to collaborate on the deployment of a commercial robotaxi service, combining Pony.ai's autonomous driving system, Uber's global mobility platform, and Verne's service ecosystem and operational framework," the announcement said. "Under this model, Pony.ai will provide its autonomous driving solution; Verne will act as fleet owner and service operator; and Uber will integrate the service into its global ride-hailing network, complementing Verne's own customer-facing platform," the announcement added. Also Thursday, Pony.ai announced its quarterly earnings, along with plans to deploy robotaxis in more than 20 cities around the world. The company's robotaxi fleet has now surpassed 1,400 vehicles, and has extended its operations into Croatia as well as the Chinese cities of Hangzhou and Changsha, the announcement said. The company said its robotaxi revenues rose by 160% year-over-year during the quarter, with fare-charging revenues jumping by more than 500%. "The robotaxi is the first true application of physical AI, with its core differentiator lying in driving capability, an area where our competitive edge remains unparalleled across the industry," said Dr. Tiancheng Lou, Pony.ai's chief technology officer. Physical AI, as covered here recently, refers to systems that go beyond generating content into operating in real environments: robots, autonomous machines and the foundational models that instruct them how to behave. "The category has been building momentum for years, but 2026 marks a credible inflection point," PYMNTS wrote. "At CES in January, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared that the ChatGPT moment for robotics had arrived, suggesting the combination of AI models and computing infrastructure could soon unlock large-scale commercial adoption." The report also touched on the theory that machines that can perceive, reason and function in the physical world may be on a more direct path "than software running in a data center" to reaching AGI (artificial general intelligence) or a form of artificial intelligence (AI) that can perform at/above the level of humans. "If that thesis is right, the physical AI buildout now underway is not just a manufacturing story. It is the early infrastructure of something considerably larger," PYMNTS added.

Pony AI Partners With Uber, Verne to Deploy Robotaxis in Europe

China's Pony AI is partnering with Uber Technologies and autonomous driving startup Verne to deploy a robotaxi service in Europe, expanding its footprint overseas as it races toward profitability. Nasdaq-listed Pony AI--one of the "Big Three" of China's robotaxi industry--will launch the service with Uber and Verne in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. The move comes as Chinese robotaxi companies push to grow their fleets at home and overseas to reach the tipping point where they can start turning sustainable profits and win over consumers. Last year, Pony AI struck a tie-up with auto giant Stellantis to deploy robotaxis in Europe, starting with test drives in Luxembourg, where the Chinese company's European division is based. Its peers, WeRide and Baidu's Apollo Go, have also expanded into the European market. Guangzhou-based Pony AI said Thursday that it will work with Uber and Verne on scaling commercial robotaxi services in Zagreb and other European cities. The trio have already started road tests in the Croatian city and aim to have a fleet of thousands of robotaxis over the next few years, they said. "Croatia has a strong tourism profile and attracts large numbers of international visitors each year, which adds another dimension to long-term mobility demand," said James Peng, chief executive of Pony AI. Under the partnership, Pony AI will provide autonomous-driving technology while Verne will act as the fleet owner and service operator. Uber will integrate the driverless taxi service into its global ride-hailing network. Verne is a Croatian company backed by Tasaru Mobility Investments, which is fully owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The announcement comes on the cusp of Pony AI's fourth-quarter earnings results, which investors will be watching for signs of progress in its profitability milestones. In the third quarter, the firm's net loss widened on a near-doubling of research-and-development expenses. Revenue rose 72% thanks to strong growth in robotaxi services, and licensing and application revenues. Pony AI also said it reached single-unit economics breakeven in Guangzhou and Shenzhen --two key markets in China--meaning it books a profit every time it adds a car to its local fleet.