Uber Technologies, Inc., along with Verne and Pony AI Inc. (“Pony.ai”), has announced the introduction of self-driving rides on the Uber app in Zagreb, which is the first occasion that European riders can reserve an AV through Uber.
Starting today, passengers can reserve an autonomous ride in important parts of Zagreb, including the downtown area, with plans for service availability and geographic coverage to grow in the future. At the start, a licensed operator will be present monitoring the vehicle, as a part of our gradual rollout, prior to the initiation of fully autonomous operations in the future.
The new offering integrates Pony.ai’s self-driving technology, Verne’s operational framework and service ecosystem, along with Uber’s worldwide mobility platform.
In this structure, Pony.ai supplies its self-driving technology; Verne functions as the fleet proprietor and service operator; and Uber incorporates the service into its ride-hailing platform, offering the rider experience through its application.
The rollout advances the collaboration revealed in March, transitioning the service from development and testing to actual implementation on Uber.
Annie Duvnjak, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility Operations at Uber, states, “This day represents a significant achievement for autonomous mobility in Europe." Combining Pony.ai’s established autonomous-driving technology, Verne’s operational knowledge, and Uber’s worldwide platform, we’re streamlining access for riders to autonomous rides via the Uber app. Zagreb represents a crucial initial move as we strive to deliver AVs to countless passengers and establish the largest platform globally for AV implementation.
Zagreb is the initial market to commence under the partnership, serving as a prototype that the companies intend to expand to more European cities. Additional information regarding the upcoming market launches will be revealed later this year.
Also Read: Cypher Capital Appoints Arash Saidi as Chief Executive Officer
Marko Pejkovic, CEO of Verne says, “Verne launched Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb in April. Since then, we have completed thousands of autonomous rides, operating every day and learning from real customers in a real European city. From today, Verne rides are also available through Uber, giving customers another way to access the service. This marks another European first — the first time autonomous rides are available through Uber in Europe. This is an important milestone not only for Verne, but also for Croatia. A service pioneered here in Zagreb is now available through the world’s largest mobility platform. The experience we are gaining every day in Zagreb will help us bring Verne to other European cities.”
Dr. James Peng, Founder and CEO of Pony.ai says, “Bringing Zagreb’s Robotaxi service onto the Uber platform is an important next step in making autonomous mobility more accessible to riders. This milestone is also a strong example of the joint deployment model in action, bringing together Pony.ai’s Gen-7 Robotaxi technology, Verne’s local operating capabilities and Uber’s platform and rider reach to create a viable path for scaling autonomous mobility. We look forward to expanding the service in Zagreb and progressing toward fully driverless operations.”
Also Read: Oceanloop Secures $ 44.5Million to Scale Land-Based Aquaculture
Safety comes first at Uber. All autonomous vehicles must meet applicable regulatory requirements and Uber’s safety standards before operating on the platform, and the service will expand gradually as the partners work towards fully autonomous operations.
Uber expects autonomous vehicles and human drivers to coexist and grow together for the foreseeable future. Many journeys will continue to require human drivers, while AVs can expand the range of transport options available to riders.
Also Read: EU Welcomes Apple's Move to Comply with Digital Rules
Riders can access the service by opening the Uber app and requesting UberX or Comfort. When an AV is available, the app will provide information about the vehicle and instructions for starting and completing the trip.