Pony.ai and Uber plan over 2,000 robotaxis in Europe
Pony.ai and Uber plan to expand their robotaxi operations in Europe, targeting a fleet of more than 2,000 autonomous vehicles. The partners aim to launch services in four additional European cities alongside Zagreb.
Pony.ai and Uber began their partnership in May 2025. In spring 2026, they launched their first commercial robotaxi service in Europe in Zagreb, working with Croatian mobility company Verne. Passengers will soon also be able to book the service through the Uber platform.
The partners now plan to expand the service significantly. They aim to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across four additional European cities alongside Zagreb, although they have not yet disclosed the locations or when the fleet will reach that size. Pony.ai and Uber also plan joint operations in the Middle East.
Pony.ai provides its SAE Level 4-certified autonomous driving system and experience from existing robotaxi fleets, while Uber handles bookings, payments and customer service through its platform. At Level 4, vehicles can operate fully autonomously without human intervention within a defined operating area.
Local partners to operate fleets
To scale the service, Pony.ai and Uber will use a joint deployment model involving local partners. Depending on the market, these partners can handle financing, vehicle ownership and day-to-day fleet operations. In Zagreb, for example, Verne owns and operates the fleet, while Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving technology and Uber connects the service with customers through its platform.
Pony.ai can already draw on experience from China, where it operates paid, fully driverless robotaxi services in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. According to the company, its operations already cover their costs at city level in several markets.
Pony.ai is also pursuing several projects in Europe. In June, it launched a pilot programme in Luxembourg with Stellantis and Bolt. The partners are testing Level 4-capable vehicles based on the Peugeot e-Traveller and their integration into a ride-hailing platform, with the long-term goal of operating without safety drivers.
With Uber, Pony.ai now plans to significantly expand its European operations. A fleet of more than 2,000 robotaxis would take the partnership well beyond individual pilot projects. For now, however, this remains a target: the partners have yet to name the four additional cities or provide a timeline for the rollout. The expansion will also depend on regulatory approval in each market.