Key Highlights
- Europe’s inaugural commercial autonomous taxi service debuts in Zagreb through Uber, Pony.ai, and Verne collaboration.
- Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous technology is powering the Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi, with testing already underway.
- Croatian startup Verne will manage fleet operations and navigate European regulatory frameworks while Uber handles platform integration.
- Strategic investment from Uber into Verne strengthens the partnership arrangement.
- Pony.ai shares plummeted 12.2% to $10.00 Thursday following disappointing Q4 profit margin results.
Uber Technologies has unveiled a groundbreaking partnership to bring Europe’s first commercial autonomous taxi service to the streets of Zagreb, Croatia. The collaboration unites Uber with Chinese autonomous technology leader Pony.ai and emerging Croatian company Verne.
$UBER and Pony AI are preparing to launch robotaxis in Croatia, which could make it the first European country with a fare-charging self-driving cab service. pic.twitter.com/XMhApX9Shk
— Polymarket Money (@PolymarketMoney) March 26, 2026
Verne — which takes its name from the legendary French author Jules Verne — will assume ownership of the autonomous fleet and manage daily operations. The company will also spearhead the complex process of obtaining European regulatory clearances and oversee service deployment through both its proprietary application and Uber’s existing platform.
Pony.ai provides the technological backbone. The company’s seventh-generation autonomous driving platform will operate the service through the Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi — a vehicle manufactured by Chinese automaker BAIC incorporating Huawei technology.
Public road trials in Zagreb are currently in progress, with revenue-generating passenger services anticipated to commence shortly.
Uber’s role includes seamlessly incorporating the autonomous service into its worldwide ride-sharing network while Verne simultaneously operates its independent consumer application. As part of the arrangement, Uber is making a strategic capital investment in Verne to facilitate future growth.
The partnership envisions rapid expansion to thousands of self-driving vehicles throughout Zagreb, with subsequent rollout planned for additional European metropolitan areas.
Market Response to the Announcement
Notwithstanding the significant announcement, Uber stock declined 1.3% to close at $72.14 on Thursday. Pony.ai experienced a steeper decline — falling 12.2% to $10.00 — following fourth-quarter earnings that revealed gross profit margins trailing analyst forecasts. While revenue reached $29.1 million, marginally exceeding the $28.6 million consensus estimate, the shortfall in profitability overshadowed the top-line beat.
The subdued investor response to Uber’s announcement suggests the market has become somewhat desensitized to robo-taxi collaboration news. The ride-sharing giant has established relationships with approximately two dozen autonomous vehicle providers across multiple segments including self-driving taxis, autonomous freight, delivery robotics, and aerial drones.
Pony.ai’s Financial Trajectory
Pony.ai completed its public listing in 2024 with an initial offering price of $13 per share. Current trading levels sit substantially below that benchmark. For 2025, the autonomous technology firm generated $90 million in revenue while recording an operating deficit of approximately $284 million.
Analyst projections forecast 2026 revenue climbing to $151 million, with management targeting operational profitability by 2029. At that milestone, market watchers anticipate annual revenue could surge to $1.7 billion — an achievement requiring fleet expansion from several hundred vehicles to tens of thousands.
Pony.ai currently maintains commercial robo-taxi operations in both Beijing and Shanghai, positioning itself alongside competitors like Alphabet’s Waymo and Tesla in the global autonomous mobility sector.
European markets have trailed behind the United States and China in autonomous taxi deployment, with most initiatives remaining in experimental stages. By comparison, Waymo presently operates commercial services spanning 10 American cities.
