Europe’s First Robotaxi Fleet Launches in Croatia with Self-Driving EVs and Low Fares

Europe has long watched as the United States and China led the race in autonomous transportation, but Croatia is now stepping into the spotlight. The country has launched Europe’s first commercial robotaxi fleet, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s autonomous mobility journey.

A startup called Verne, backed by entrepreneur Mate Rimac—founder of Rimac Automobili and CEO of Bugatti Rimac—has officially introduced the service in Zagreb. Verne’s robotaxis are self-driving electric vehicles (EVs) available to customers at an unprecedentedly low cost.

To celebrate its launch, Verne is charging a flat fee of €1.99 ($2.22) per trip. This price point is designed to make autonomous rides accessible, costing less than a typical bottle of water purchased while waiting for an Uber. The fee covers Verne’s entire operating zone in Zagreb, which spans 35 square miles (91 square kilometers). This area includes parts of the Croatian capital as well as Zagreb’s international airport. Additional roads and zones are slated for expansion in the coming months.

Verne’s current fleet consists of 10 electric SUVs based on the Arcfox Alpha T5, a model produced by Chinese automaker BAIC. The autonomous driving technology is powered by Pony.ai, one of China’s leading self-driving technology firms. Customers can book rides through Verne’s dedicated mobile app, with plans to integrate the service into the Uber platform in the future. Currently, only 300 people have access to the app, though thousands more are on the waiting list for verification.

Despite the futuristic appeal of robotaxis gliding through historic streets without human oversight, there is a critical caveat: each vehicle still carries a trained safety operator during this early phase of deployment. This requirement is in place to comply with local regulations. However, Verne has announced its intention to remove human overseers by the end of the year, moving toward fully autonomous operations.

The driving experience itself is already highly autonomous. Reporters from AFP who tested the service reported that the vehicles navigated traffic with confidence, overtaking slower cars and handling unexpected obstacles without human intervention. In one notable instance, a robotaxi made an abrupt stop after another driver swerved into its lane. The vehicle then calmly apologized via an electronic voice assistant—a level of courtesy often absent in human-driven taxis.

Ambitious Plans for Europe and Beyond

Verne’s ambitions extend far beyond Croatia. The startup, supported by Mate Rimac, is already in discussions with 11 cities across Europe, the UK, and the Middle East. Additionally, Verne is evaluating more than 30 additional cities for potential expansion. The company’s long-term vision includes replacing the current Chinese SUVs with its own purpose-built, two-seat autonomous pods, a concept first unveiled several years ago.