Uber Debuts First European Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service in Zagreb in Partnership with Verne and Pony.ai

Uber has officially marked a significant milestone in its European operations by launching autonomous ride-hailing services in Zagreb, Croatia. This initiative, developed in collaboration with autonomous vehicle technology firms Verne and Pony.ai, makes the Croatian capital the first city in Europe where users can book a self-driving vehicle directly through the standard Uber application. The move signals a major shift in the continent’s transportation landscape, bringing futuristic transit solutions to the public while establishing a new benchmark for smart city integration within the European Union. The partnership leverages the specific technical strengths of each participating entity to ensure a seamless transition to automated transit. While Uber provides the established global ride-sharing platform and expansive user base, Verne and Pony.ai contribute the critical autonomous driving systems and specialized vehicle hardware required to navigate complex urban environments safely. By integrating these advanced self-driving capabilities into a familiar user interface, the project aims to bridge the gap between experimental technology and everyday consumer utility. This deployment in Zagreb serves as a critical real-world test for similar expansions across the European Union, testing both consumer appetite and technical reliability. Industry observers view this launch as a pivotal step for Uber as it seeks to diversify its service offerings and explore the long-term potential of automation. For the city of Zagreb, being selected as the inaugural European site for this service underscores its growing status as a regional hub for technological innovation. As the pilot program progresses, the performance data and safety metrics collected from these autonomous rides will likely inform future regulatory frameworks for self-driving vehicles throughout the region, potentially accelerating the adoption of autonomous transit in other major European capitals.