Pony.ai and Uber Expand European Robotaxis
Pony.ai and Uber have expanded their autonomous mobility partnership, with plans to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across Europe. The companies announced the expansion on August 14, 2026, as they move beyond their initial Zagreb operation. The plan covers four additional European cities. However, the companies have not named those locations or provided a completion timeline.
The expanded agreement builds on a partnership launched in May 2025. Initially, the companies planned to bring Pony.ai robotaxis onto Uber’s platform in international markets. Since then, their European strategy has moved toward commercial operations.
Expansion beyond Zagreb
In April, Pony.ai, Uber and Croatian mobility company Verne launched a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb. Pony.ai supplies its autonomous driving technology, while Verne owns and operates the fleet. Meanwhile, Uber provides access to its ride-hailing platform.
The Zagreb service marked Europe’s first commercial robotaxi operation. Initially, customers could book and pay through Verne’s app, while Uber integration was planned for a later stage. Moreover, the service covers parts of Zagreb, including the airport.
Now, the partners intend to extend the model to four more European cities. Therefore, the planned European fleet will exceed 2,000 vehicles across five cities, including Zagreb. The companies also plan to explore deployments in the Middle East, although they released few details.
A broader autonomous mobility strategy
Pony.ai will provide its Level 4 autonomous driving technology and operational expertise. In contrast, Uber brings its global mobility platform, including booking, payments and customer service. Local fleet operators will handle daily operations in individual markets.
“This expanded agreement marks an important new phase in the partnership between Pony.ai and Uber,” Pony.ai founder and CEO James Peng said in a statement.
“By combining Pony.ai’s autonomous driving technology and operational know-how with Uber’s global mobility platform and market reach, we aim to build sustained commercial operations at scale across Europe and beyond,” he said.
Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery Sarfraz Maredia said the next stage of autonomous mobility would be moving from individual launches to repeatable commercial deployment.
“Together with Pony.ai, we’re combining advanced autonomous technology with Uber’s hybrid platform and operational experience to build a model that can expand across cities,” he said.
The expansion comes as autonomous vehicle companies accelerate European deployments. For example, Uber is also working with WeRide on a robotaxi pilot in Madrid.
