Pony.ai and Verne Launch Fully Driverless Robotaxi Tests in Croatia

Pony AI Inc. and Verne announced on September 10, 2026, the commencement of fully driverless robotaxi test rides carrying invited passengers on public roads in Zagreb, Croatia. [1] The current 22-kilometer route links Verne’s headquarters and a main business district to Franjo Tuđman Airport Zagreb. [1] According to Pony.ai, these fully driverless routes will be expanded over the next few months to cover the entire operating area in Zagreb. [1] The rides are conducted in accordance with applicable Croatian regulations and the necessary autonomous vehicle testing approvals. [1]

This deployment follows a partnership announced five months prior between Pony.ai, Verne, and Uber to launch a commercial robotaxi service. [1] Under this model, Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving technology, Verne handles operations, and Uber provides access through its platform. [1] The initial service, which launched in early April 2026, required an onboard autonomous vehicle operator. [1] Since that launch, the fleet has logged over 200,000 kilometers, completed several thousand customer rides, and achieved an average passenger rating of 4.7 out of 5. [1]

The shift to fully driverless operations demonstrates Pony.ai's ability to transfer its autonomous technology and operational experience from commercial services in China to European deployments. Moving from an operator-assisted model to fully driverless rides within just five months highlights an aggressive scaling timeline for the joint deployment model established by Pony.ai, Verne, and Uber. This rapid transition underscores the growing maturity of autonomous driving systems operating in diverse, real-world urban environments. What the sources don't address: How the operational pricing and liability frameworks will adapt once the fully driverless service is opened beyond invited test passengers.