Uber invests in robotaxi provider Verne
Uber has now also made a financial investment in Verne. This stake deepens the collaboration that began in March regarding the robotaxi service in Zagreb, which is already available through the Uber app.
Verne and Uber are already working together on the commercial operation of robotaxis in Zagreb.
Image: Verne
As reported by EVWire, Verne co-founder and CEO Marko Pejković has confirmed Uber’s investment. In response to a query from the portal on LinkedIn, he said, “I can confirm – yes Uber has invested in Verne.” The companies have not yet disclosed the amount of the investment or any other financial details.
It has been known since March that Uber wants to get involved with Verne. At that time, Verne, Uber, and Pony.ai announced their collaboration to establish a commercial robotaxi service in Europe. Uber stated at the time that it intended to invest in Verne. However, this investment had not been publicly confirmed up to now.
The partnership has made significant progress since then. In Zagreb, Verne initially launched robotaxis using the Arcfox Alpha T5 and Pony.ai’s Gen-7 autonomous driving system. Since August, these vehicles have also been available for booking through the Uber app. In September, selected passengers were able to take their first rides without a safety driver on a 22-kilometer route between Zagreb Airport, Verne’s headquarters, and the city center.
Uber and Verne deepen their robotaxi partnership
The latest catalyst for the investment announcement was a visit by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to Verne in Zagreb. According to the companies themselves, he completed a fully driverless ride there. Verne co-founder Mate Rimac subsequently labeled Uber as an investor and strategic partner on Facebook, outlining further joint expansion steps outside Croatia.
In parallel, Verne continues working on its own vehicle developed specifically for robotaxi use. This electric two-seater lacks a steering wheel and pedals and is based on Mobileye Drive. By the end of 2025, Verne claimed to have completed 60 verification prototypes.
The current operation using Pony.ai technology runs in parallel with the development of its own vehicle. As early as when launching the robotaxi service in spring, Verne announced that it would incorporate its self-developed model into the fleet at a later stage.
Verne launched its robotaxi service in Zagreb in April. Initially, the service covered approximately 90 square kilometers around the Croatian capital, including the airport. The company also stated that it was already in talks with other cities in Europe, the UK, and the Middle East regarding future deployments.
