Uber has officially confirmed its investment in the robotaxi provider Verne. While the companies have not disclosed the specific financial terms or the size of the stake, the deal marks a deepening of their strategic partnership. The collaboration focuses on expanding autonomous ride-hailing services, with Verne co-founder Mate Rimac noting potential plans for growth beyond Croatia.
The partnership began with a joint project in Zagreb, where Verne launched a robotaxi service in April. The initial service area covers approximately 90 square kilometers, including the city center and the airport. Since August, these rides have been available for booking directly through the Uber app. In September, the companies successfully conducted fully driverless rides on a 22-kilometer route.
Currently, the fleet in Zagreb utilizes Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicles equipped with Pony.ai’s Gen-7 autonomous driving system. Simultaneously, Verne is developing its own electric two-seater robotaxi, which will feature neither a steering wheel nor pedals. This proprietary model is based on Mobileye Drive technology, and the company reported the completion of 60 verification prototypes by the end of 2025.
The investment follows a visit by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to Verne’s headquarters in Zagreb, where he participated in a driverless ride. Verne is currently negotiating with various cities across Europe, the UK, and the Middle East to deploy its services in the future. The company plans to integrate its self-developed vehicle model into the existing fleet at a later stage.
