Verne robotaxi service prepares for launch in Berlin
Robotaxi provider Verne is preparing to launch in Germany, starting with the capital. The Croatian company told electrive that it is building its operational presence in the country. Two job postings for the Berlin location provide clues about the structures it intends to establish. Verne has not yet announced a specific launch date.
Verne robotaxi in Zagreb, Croatia
Image: Verne
Verne recently advertised two positions for its operational launch in Germany: a Fleet Operations Manager and an AV Operator responsible for operating autonomous vehicle systems during the testing and deployment phase. Both roles are based in Berlin, suggesting that Verne intends to bring its robotaxi service to the German capital.
Both job postings are part of the preparations for the German market, as a Verne press spokesperson told _electrive_. The company is not yet disclosing further details about its plans for Germany.
Verne begins establishing an operational presence
The Verne press spokesperson said, “Germany remains a priority market for Verne’s international expansion, as we previously announced. We are beginning to build our operational presence in Germany, and the two advertised roles in Berlin are part of this work.”
This is the first time Verne has explicitly confirmed that the Berlin job postings are tied to the establishment of its own operational structures in Germany. The company clearly considers this important, as Verne CEO Marko Pejković shared one of the two job postings on his LinkedIn page.
Germany already known as a key target market
In June 2024, Verne announced during the unveiling of its robotaxi concept that Germany would be one of the first three planned markets. Following the launch in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2026, whichtook place in spring this year, the robotaxi service was then set to expand first to the UK and Germany, before further countries in Europe and the Middle East. The concept includes a self-developed “purpose-built” robotaxi that is fully driverless, with no steering wheel or pedals. However, the all-electric two-seater is still in the testing phase, and Verne is initially using other vehicles to quickly gain practical experience.
Verne is part of the Croatian Rimac Group, a manufacturer of hypercars and Tier-1 supplier to the automotive industry. Verne was founded in 2019 under the name Project 3 Mobility by Mate Rimac, Marko Pejković and Adriano Mudri. The Rimac Group has since brought on additional investors, most recently Uber, and still holds 42 per cent of Verne. Rimac Group CEO Mate Rimac is a co-founder and chairman of the supervisory board of the robotaxi company Verne.
Job postings provide insights into planned structures
The Fleet Operations Manager posting is particularly revealing. The position is explicitly based in Berlin. The future role holder will be responsible for a vehicle depot, including the vehicles, AV Operators, workshop technicians, charging infrastructure and spare parts supply. Daily maintenance and vehicle release for deployment are also part of the responsibilities. Verne describes the role as operational depot management, ensuring that the vehicles are ready for deployment every day.
Another interesting detail is a key performance indicator that the Fleet Operations Manager will share with the Service Operations team: the number of completed revenue-generating trips per vehicle per day. This suggests that Verne is not only establishing Berlin structures for technical testing but also has a future commercial robotaxi operation in mind. The job posting also requires applicants to have experience managing a fleet of at least 20 to 50 vehicles, although Verne does not specify that its own fleet will be of this size.
AV operator to operate autonomous prototypes
The second position, AV Operator, is based in the Autonomous Driving department. This appears to be a combination of safety driver and technical test personnel. The successful candidate will operate autonomous prototypes for data collection and testing, conduct safety and risk assessments, and diagnose technical issues in the field. The role also includes the integration and calibration of components such as LiDAR, radar, cameras and GPS. A professional driving background is preferred. This position indicates that Verne also intends to establish practical testing and development activities with autonomous vehicles in Berlin.
However, Verne has not yet disclosed a specific launch date for Berlin, nor a planned operational area or fleet size. The company has also not commented on any potential discussions with German or Berlin authorities regarding the necessary approvals. Currently, neither Verne itself nor its current technology partner Pony.ai appear on the list of autonomous driving testing permits issued by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. Such a permit is a prerequisite for later obtaining approval from local authorities for a specific testing and operational area.
It is also unclear which vehicles will be used in Berlin. One possibility is the use of vehicles deployed in collaboration with Pony.ai, such as the Arcfox Alpha T5, which is already operating in Zagreb. Whether Verne will instead — or at a later stage — deploy its own purpose-built, two-seater robotaxi, specifically designed for driverless operation in Germany, remains an open question.
Manchester launch already confirmed
In parallel with its preparations in Germany, Verne is advancing its expansion in the UK. “As we recently announced, Manchester is our next destination. We have already begun mapping and autonomous driving tests there. We will share more details soon about when our service will launch in new markets.”
Manchester is thus the next explicitly announced target market for Verne. Mapping work and tests with autonomous vehicles are already underway there. However, the company has not specified when the robotaxi service will launch in Manchester, nor has it provided a potential start date for Germany.
_Source: Statements via email_, letsverne.com (Fleet Operations Manager), letsverne.com (AV Operator)