Verne and Pony.ai have started testing fully autonomous robotaxis on public roads in Zagreb, marking a significant milestone for driverless transportation in Europe. The approximately 22-kilometer route between Buzin and Zagreb Airport is being used for testing without a safety operator behind the wheel, while Verne personnel monitor the vehicles remotely.

The move represents the next phase of Verne’s robotaxi project, which began in Zagreb in April with a human safety operator present in every vehicle. That requirement has now been removed from the test vehicles, allowing the cars to navigate and make driving decisions without a person capable of taking control from the driver’s seat.

For now, however, this is still a testing program rather than a commercial robotaxi service. Passengers cannot yet book these driverless rides through the Verne or Uber apps.

Zagreb Robotaxis Enter a New Phase

The latest tests are taking place on the route between Buzin and Zagreb Airport, covering approximately 22 kilometers. The vehicles operate autonomously, while Verne’s personnel supervise their movement remotely.

According to Verne and Pony.ai, the Zagreb project represents the first test of fully autonomous vehicles on public roads in Europe. The companies describe the removal of the safety operator as an important step toward a future in which robotaxis can operate without a human driver inside the vehicle.

The distinction is important. Autonomous driving technology has been tested in various forms for years, but removing the human safety driver introduces another level of operational and regulatory complexity. The vehicle must not only control steering, acceleration and braking, but also respond appropriately to traffic, road conditions and unexpected situations without immediate intervention from someone sitting behind the wheel.

Commercial Robotaxi Rides Are Still to Come

Although Verne’s vehicles have already been operating in Zagreb, the latest driverless runs remain strictly for testing purposes. The company has not yet commercialized the fully autonomous service, meaning members of the public cannot currently request these rides through the Verne or Uber applications.

Testing is expected to expand gradually over the coming months, eventually covering the area where Verne’s robotaxi service already operates.

The companies have not indicated that the removal of the safety operator means commercial availability is imminent. Instead, the latest development should be viewed as another stage in the process of validating the technology and preparing the service for broader use.

How Verne, Pony.ai and Uber Fit Into the Project

The Zagreb robotaxi project brings together three companies with different responsibilities.

• Verne is responsible for organizing and operating the robotaxi service in Zagreb.
• Pony.ai provides the autonomous driving technology.
• Uber is the future distribution platform, with the robotaxi service expected to become available to users through its app.

The partnership gives Verne control over the local operation while allowing Pony.ai to deploy its autonomous driving technology in a European environment. For Uber, the project offers a potential way to integrate autonomous vehicles into its existing mobility platform.

Pony.ai also believes that the experience gained in Zagreb will support the company’s broader expansion into the European autonomous transportation market.

A More Practical Robotaxi Interior

Verne has also introduced changes to the vehicle’s interior as part of the latest phase of development.

The front passenger seat has been removed, creating additional space for luggage and allowing the installation of a large screen. Passengers will be able to control various functions of the vehicle through a touchscreen positioned between the rear seats.

That layout reflects a different approach to vehicle design. In a conventional car, the front cabin is built around a driver and a front passenger. In a robotaxi, the interior can instead prioritize rear-seat passengers, luggage capacity and access to digital controls.

The changes are particularly relevant for airport transportation, where passengers may be traveling with suitcases and may value a more spacious rear compartment.

More Than 200,000 Autonomous Kilometers in Zagreb

Verne says its vehicles have completed more than 200,000 autonomous kilometers since the service launched in April. The company reports that this distance was accumulated through several thousand rides with users.

The reported average passenger rating is 4.7 out of 5, while the service currently covers an area of more than 100 square kilometers.

Those figures provide an early indication of the project’s scale, although they should not be confused with proof that the system is ready for unrestricted commercial operation. Autonomous driving performance must also be assessed across different traffic conditions, weather, road layouts and operational scenarios.

Still, the accumulated mileage gives Verne and Pony.ai a substantial amount of real-world experience to draw on as testing expands.

How Zagreb Compares With Waymo and Tesla

Fully autonomous ride-hailing remains relatively uncommon worldwide. Waymo is one of the most established providers of commercial robotaxi rides, while Tesla has also begun offering robotaxi services in a limited number of locations.

Tesla’s initiative remains in its early stages and is geographically restricted, while Waymo has developed a more established commercial operation in selected markets.

Verne’s Zagreb project is different in that it is still progressing through the testing phase. Nevertheless, the removal of the safety operator places the project among the more notable European efforts to move autonomous transportation beyond supervised driving.

What Comes Next for Verne’s Robotaxis?

The next step will be to expand testing gradually across the area where Verne already operates. The company’s objective is to demonstrate that its vehicles can safely and reliably perform autonomous journeys without a human safety operator inside the cabin.

The transition is significant because it changes the operational model of the service. Instead of relying on a driver who can intervene immediately, Verne must depend on the vehicle’s autonomous driving system, remote monitoring and the procedures supporting the entire operation.

For passengers, the eventual promise is straightforward: a robotaxi that can be requested through an app, travel independently and provide a comfortable journey without a driver in the front seat.

For now, Zagreb remains a testing ground. But with Verne, Pony.ai and Uber working together, the city is becoming an important European location for the development of driverless mobility.

The removal of the safety operator is not the final destination—it is a major step toward it.

Source: Verne