Uber & Pony.ai Expand Robotaxi Tests to Europe

Uber and Chinese robotaxi company Pony.ai have initiated driverless car testing in Zagreb, Croatia. This expansion into Europe follows their existing partnership, with plans for a public launch soon through local startup Verne. Verne will manage a fleet of BAIC Motor Corp. robotaxis outfitted with Pony.ai's autonomous technology, with vehicles eventually available on Uber's app.

Pony.ai, a nearly decade-old company, seeks to grow its global operations and improve sales. For Uber, this initiative is a key component of its strategy to integrate robotaxis with its existing ride-sharing network. The company has stated its intention to deploy driverless rides in over 10 markets this year.

Testing on public roads in Zagreb is already in progress. The partners intend to scale up their robotaxi fleet to thousands of vehicles across additional European cities and other markets in the coming years. Uber is investing in Verne to support this expansion.

Verne is responsible for ensuring market readiness and securing regulatory approvals for these launches in Europe. The company has also announced its own plans for a unique two-seater robotaxi without a steering wheel in 2026.

Uber does not develop its own autonomous driving systems, having divested its in-house unit in 2020. Instead, it collaborates with over 20 global technology and automotive partners, including Waymo in the US and WeRide in the UAE, to offer self-driving rides via its app.