Pony AI's global expansion has achieved another milestone as Croatia launches the first commercial Robotaxi service in Europe

On April 8, Pony AI $Pony AI (PONY.US)$ in collaboration with autonomous driving mobility service provider Verne and global mobility platform Uber, launched the commercial operation of its Robotaxi service in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. This marks the first commercial Robotaxi service open to the public in Europe. Starting today, residents of Zagreb can book a ride via the Verne app, and the service will soon be integrated into the Uber app.

In the initial phase of operation, the service will cover an area of approximately 90 square kilometers, including downtown Zagreb and Zagreb Airport, with daily operating hours from 7:00 to 21:00. In the future, the service area will gradually expand to the entire city.

The launch of this service comes just two weeks after the three parties announced their collaboration, showcasing Pony AI's technical adaptability and efficient implementation capabilities. It also marks a significant step forward in the company's dual-engine strategy. $PONY-W (02026.HK)$ Following the recent achievement of a break-even point for the seventh-generation Robotaxi single-vehicle economic model in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, two first-tier cities in China, Pony AI has further expanded its commercial services to the European market, continuously validating the adaptability and replicability of its autonomous driving technology and business model across different regions.

Pony AI's founder and CEO, James Peng, stated: 'The launch of services in Zagreb represents a crucial milestone in the company's global expansion and is Europe’s first commercial Robotaxi project, holding symbolic significance. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to build a scalable operational system, providing global users with safe, reliable, and convenient autonomous driving mobility services.'

Marko Pejković, co-founder and CEO of Verne, stated: 'Europe has finally welcomed a truly commercialized Robotaxi service. We have fulfilled our promise to begin operations in Zagreb by 2026, which will be a significant milestone.'

The rapid implementation of the Zagreb project demonstrates Pony AI's ability to adapt its autonomous driving solutions to different regulatory and operational environments. Its unique 'co-built fleet model' also highlights the advantages of efficient synergy – Pony AI provides proven autonomous driving solutions and operational experience, while Verne, as the fleet owner and operator, manages day-to-day operations. Uber integrates the service into its global ride-hailing network, complementing Verne's user platform. Through division of labor and cooperation, all parties achieve efficient integration of resources and capabilities, jointly building a sustainable and replicable commercial win-win model for Robotaxis.

As globalization accelerates, Pony AI expects its dual-engine strategy and co-built fleet model to continue unleashing economies of scale, supporting multi-regional deployment and operational replication, and helping the company reach its goal of operating 3,000 vehicles by the end of 2026. Currently, the company has achieved phased progress in multiple regions globally: in Europe, it has started public road testing in Luxembourg and launched commercial Robotaxi operations in Croatia; in the Middle East, it has been approved for road testing in the UAE and initiated Robotaxi commercial services in Qatar; in Asia, it has conducted public road tests in Seoul, South Korea, while commencing passenger-carrying operations in Singapore, continuously expanding its international market footprint.

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