Mate Rimac, the visionary behind electric hypercars and now robotaxis, is readying his Croatian startup Verne for a European launch. Partnering with Uber and Chinese tech giants Pony.ai, they aim to roll out autonomous taxis in Zagreb starting this month.

Verne’s ambitious project, initially conceived as Project 3 Mobility, is now set to operate a fleet of purpose-built electric vehicles within the startup's new Croatian factory. The partnership with Uber ensures a broad user base and substantial investment from the ride-hailing giant.

This move signifies a significant step towards autonomous mobility in Europe, potentially changing the urban landscape beyond just Zagreb’s famous landmarks like St Mark’s Square. CEO Marko Pejkovic envisions scaling up to thousands of robotaxis across multiple markets, addressing the need for autonomous services that can transition smoothly from testing to real-world use.

While Verne may not yet be a household name, its technology and strategic partnerships mean it could soon become a major player in the burgeoning robotaxi market. The question is: will anyone notice their cars zipping through Croatian streets if they don’t have window shades?