Verne robotaxi service partners with Uber and Pony.ai for launch. Rimac-owned Verne is set to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Europe with Uber and Pony.ai. This will launch in the Croatian capital of Zagreb, where road tests by Pony.ai partner Arcfox are underway. By Florian Treiss 30.03.2026 - 16:30 In June 2024, the Croatian EV manufacturer Rimac unveiled its plans for Verne: a robotaxi service built around a fully autonomous battery-electric vehicle with just two seats, no steering wheel, and no pedals. At the time, Rimac announced that the service would launch in Zagreb in 2026, followed by expansions to the UK and Germany, and eventually to additional markets across Europe and the Middle East. The announcement of the new partnerships is then surprising for two reasons. First, Rimac has partnered with Pony.ai, a company that offers a proprietary autonomous driving solution comprising hardware, software, and services. Initially, Rimac had planned to collaborate with Pony.ai's competitor, Israel's Mobileye, for Verne's autonomous driving technology. The collaboration with Uber is equally significant. Rimac had previously outlined a fully integrated solution for Verne, encompassing its own vehicles, fleet management, and a dedicated customer app - a vertically integrated approach. Rimac founder Mate Rimac stated at the time: "We want to make a difference with our holistic integrated approach, which is designed around the best possible experience." Uber's involvement is driven by several factors: the US ride-hailing giant has pledged an undisclosed investment in Verne, following recent investments in the robotaxi ventures of Lucid and Rivian. Additionally, integrating Verne into the Uber platform from the outset is expected to significantly boost its reach compared to a standalone offering. Finally, Uber is not insisting on exclusivity for its booking platform; instead, it will be complemented by 'Verne's own customer-facing platform', representing a hybrid approach to booking. Road tests already underway in Zagreb. As part of the collaboration, the partners have already begun road tests in the Croatian capital, Zagreb. However, these tests do not yet use Verne's self-developed robotaxi but rather a robotaxi based on the Arcfox Alpha T5, equipped with Pony.ai's Gen-7 autonomous driving system. Zagreb is then set to host the launch of Europe's first commercial robotaxi service - provided no other project beats them to it. Verne will lead the market introduction and the process of obtaining European approval, while coordinating the deployment of Pony.ai's robotaxis within the networks of both Verne and Uber. Verne will act as both the fleet owner and service operator. Autonomous mobility for Europe. "Europe needs autonomous mobility that can move from testing to a real service," says Marko Pejkovic, CEO of Verne. "At Verne, we are bringing together the technology, platform, and operational capabilities required to make this a reality, starting in Zagreb before expanding to new markets." One question remains: what is the status of Verne's self-developed robotaxi, which relies on Mobileye technology? A query from electrive to Verne on this issue remains unanswered and Electrive will provide an update if a response is received. However, the facts remain: Verne's own robotaxi factory near Zagreb is set to commence operations this year, while the company announced the completion of 60 verification prototypes last November. It is therefore likely that Verne is using the launch with the Arcfox vehicles in Zagreb to bridge the gap until its own vehicles are ready, while simultaneously gaining real-world experience in fleet management and booking platforms. Electrive has also sought clarification from Verne on this matter and are awaiting a response. 0 comments. about "Verne robotaxi service partners with Uber and Pony.ai for launch" Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Audi mapping vehicle spotted in Dresden. - March 26, 2026 Why it matters. Accurate HD maps are critical for safe autonomous navigation, giving Audi a competitive edge in Europe's rapidly evolving self-driving market. The data collected in historic city centers addresses one of the toughest challenges for driverless technology. Key takeaways. * - Audi deployed mapping car to capture Dresden's street data. * - Vehicle equipped with lidar, cameras, and high-precision GPS. * - Data supports Audi's autonomous driving and advanced navigation systems. * - Mapping fleet expands across Germany, targeting complex historic cityscapes. * - Regulators monitor privacy, ensuring compliance with European data laws. Summary. Audi's high-definition mapping vehicle was photographed navigating the narrow, cobblestone streets of Dresden's Old Town. The car, bearing German plates IN 1127, is equipped with lidar, cameras, and precision GPS to collect detailed road geometry and sensor data. This deployment is part of Audi's broader effort to build a continent-wide HD map network for its future autonomous-driving platforms. The sighting confirms the company's active field testing in complex European urban environments. Pulse analysis. Audi's mapping vehicle in Dresden illustrates the automaker's commitment to building the granular, high-definition maps required for Level 3 and beyond autonomous driving. Unlike conventional navigation maps, HD maps capture lane markings, curb heights, and even surface textures, enabling vehicles to anticipate road conditions with millimeter precision. By deploying sensor-rich cars in historic districts - where narrow lanes, uneven cobblestones, and irregular signage abound - Audi gathers data that many rivals overlook, positioning itself to launch reliable self-driving services in Europe's most challenging urban settings. The technology stack on the mapping car combines 64-beam lidar, 12 high-resolution cameras, and dual-frequency GNSS receivers, feeding terabytes of raw data into Audi's cloud-based mapping platform. This data is then processed using AI-driven algorithms that stitch together 3-D point clouds, generate semantic road models, and validate against regulatory standards. As European governments tighten privacy and data-security rules, Audi must balance extensive data collection with strict compliance, anonymizing any personally identifiable information captured during street runs. Strategically, the Dresden sighting signals Audi's broader rollout of a continent-wide HD map network, mirroring moves by competitors such as Tesla, Waymo, and Mobileye. With Germany's dense network of historic city centers, mastering these environments could unlock a sizable market for autonomous ride-hailing and logistics services. Investors and industry observers will watch how quickly Audi can translate this raw mapping data into commercial autonomous offerings, potentially reshaping mobility in the EU. Mario Herger This Audi mapping vehicle was spotted by Andreas Preuß in Dresden's Old Town, where it was systematically driving down the streets.

Mobileye has secured a deal with a leading US automaker to integrate its Driver Monitoring System into future vehicles using the company's EyeQ6L system-on-chip, with production starting in 2027. The programme will span multiple models and model years, expanding an existing advanced driver-assistance system partnership. The Mobileye DMS uses driver gaze and attention data alongside real-time road context to detect distraction. It operates with the company's Occupant Monitoring System on a single chip, enabling in-cabin sensing and exterior road perception within one platform. The system is designed to meet Euro NCAP 2026 scoring requirements and anticipates 2029 protocol updates. However, Wedbush analysts noted the deal represents "incremental revenue" whilst viewing driver monitoring as "a relatively limited feature set" compared to full ADAS capabilities being developed by competitors like NVIDIA and Tesla. Mobileye shares rose nearly 4% following the announcement.