VERNE OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE OF AUTONOMOUS RIDE-HAILING
Verne is an autonomous ride-hailing company founded by Rimac Group CEO Mate Rimac, Verne CEO Marko Pejkovic, and Rimac Nevera designer Adriano Mudri, named in honour of science fiction author Jules Verne. Launched in Zagreb in April 2026, Verne became Europe's first commercial robotaxi service, operating in partnership with Pony.ai and Uber. The company's long-term goal is to replace its initial fleet of converted Arcfox Alpha T5s with a purpose-built two-seat autonomous vehicle designed from the ground up without a steering wheel or pedals.
The Verne Vehicle: Design and Passenger Experience
Verne's purpose-built vehicle takes a deliberate two-passenger configuration, a decision grounded in data showing that 90% of urban ride-hailing trips carry one or two people. The car uses a wedge-shaped hatchback silhouette with glazing that extends all the way to the front bumper, giving passengers an unusually wide field of view and creating a sense of openness uncommon in this vehicle class. Sliding doors ease entry and exit in tight urban spaces, and the interior provides generous legroom given the compact footprint. A large central screen and the circular "Halo ring" sunroof are the defining interior features, giving the cabin a considered aesthetic that reflects the design team's background in performance vehicles. Passengers personalise their journey through the Verne app before the vehicle arrives, adjusting preferences that range from climate settings to audio.
From Mobileye to Pony.ai: How Verne's Technology Evolved
When Verne was first announced, the plan called for Mobileye's autonomous driving platform as the technology backbone. Before commercial launch, Verne switched to Pony.ai, whose seventh-generation autonomous system now underpins the Zagreb service. Safety operators currently ride in the vehicle during this early phase, consistent with regulatory requirements for new autonomous deployments. The switch reflects the competitive and rapidly evolving nature of the autonomous driving software market, where platform decisions remain fluid as different providers advance their validation and certification processes. The Next Web reported that Verne launched commercial rides on April 8, 2026, making Zagreb the first European city to offer paid autonomous taxi rides to the general public.
Global Expansion Plans
Zagreb is the first city but not the last. Verne had already signed agreements with 11 cities across the UK, EU, and Middle East ahead of the Zagreb launch, with negotiations underway in 30 further cities. Germany and the UK are the next European markets in the expansion plan. The pace at which Verne has moved from announcement to commercial service, and the breadth of its city pipeline, places it among the most credible near-term autonomous mobility operators outside the United States and China. Motor1's coverage of the original announcement explored how Rimac's hypercar engineering culture, which prioritises pushing engineering limits, has transferred into the robotaxi context.
Electric Vehicles and the Future of Mobility at TheArsenale
Verne represents one vision of where urban mobility is heading: autonomous, electric, and purpose-designed. For those who want to engage more personally with the electric vehicle revolution, the TheArsenale Electric collection features a range of design-led electric vehicles. The Duo by TheArsenale electric microcar and the Nitid Trinity electric hypercar represent opposite ends of the EV spectrum, while the broader Cars collection provides context for the full range of what modern automotive design is producing.
Photo: VERNE
