Uber is now running Europe’s first truly driverless robotaxis—with zero human safety drivers

Europe’s first fully driverless robotaxi service is officially live on public roads. An autonomous mobility startup named Verne has initiated passenger test rides in the capital city of Zagreb, Croatia, successfully operating completely without human safety supervisors in the front seat. According to reporting from InsideEVs, this unprecedented technical milestone allows everyday commuters to hail a self-driving car straight through the standard Uber app.

To pull this off, the local startup partnered directly with the Chinese autonomous software firm Pony.ai. The current pilot program maps a 13.6-mile route between the company’s headquarters and the downtown business district near the airport. While the Croatian mobility team monitors the fleet remotely, Pony.ai’s underlying software executes all the real-time steering, braking, and acceleration on its own.

This complete removal of a human safety operator marks a brutal turning point for the European autonomous vehicle sector. While competitors like Wayve and Uber recently launched self-driving Ford Mustang Mach-Es in London, those specific vehicles still require a human supervisor actively sitting behind the wheel. By successfully ditching the physical operator, this new alliance is proving that truly autonomous ride-hailing is no longer restricted to heavily mapped American test markets like Austin or San Francisco.

The ultimate passenger-first cabin

Rather than deploying its own proprietary vehicle from day one, Verne opted to heavily modify an existing Chinese electric crossover to get the service off the ground. The current fleet relies on the Arcfox Alpha T5, an electric SUV that the engineering team aggressively retrofitted for a purely passenger-focused experience. To maximize interior volume, the startup completely ripped out the front passenger seat to create dedicated luggage space for airport runs.

The interior redesign intentionally shifts the entire focus to the back seat, transforming the cabin into a mobile entertainment lounge. Where the front passenger headrest would normally sit, the company installed a high-definition digital display that allows riders to track their route, stream movies, or play video games during transit. Without a physical co-driver seat occupying the front cabin, rear passengers are treated to uncompromising legroom.

This stopgap hardware solution is simply a stepping stone toward the company’s ultimate vision for urban mobility. Verne previously unveiled a highly sophisticated, purpose-built robotaxi concept that features automated sliding doors, a panoramic glass roof, and a theater-style display screen. While that futuristic two-seater remains under active development, the current Arcfox fleet allows the startup to aggressively train its routing software in live European traffic.

A global autonomous arms race

The sudden rollout in Zagreb highlights exactly how quickly the global race for autonomous ride-hailing dominance is accelerating. Pony.ai already operates commercial robotaxi fleets across four major Chinese cities, but securing a foothold in Europe requires navigating significantly more complex urban layouts. By using the mixed architecture of Croatia’s capital as a testing ground, the Chinese software firm is actively validating its tech for a massive international expansion.

Uber is playing a critical role behind the scenes by integrating these experimental vehicles directly into its existing global dispatch network. Instead of forcing consumers to download an obscure proprietary app, the ride-sharing giant is dropping autonomous options right in front of millions of active users. This seamless integration strategy guarantees an immediate customer base for autonomous startups desperately trying to prove their commercial viability.

Europe’s pivot to fully driverless rides proves that the autonomous vehicle industry is finally moving past the supervised testing phase. If this new alliance can successfully scale a driverless fleet in a complex European capital, it will instantly pressure rival tech giants to accelerate their own deployment timelines. The era of the human safety driver is officially ending, and the robotaxi market is finally ready to operate completely on its own.

This article is made and published by Asger Risom, who may have used AI in the preparation