Uber has rolled out its first autonomous taxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with Pony.ai and Verne. The move marks Uber's entry into the European robotaxi market, with plans to scale to over 2,000 vehicles. Following the announcement, Uber shares rose 4.49% as investors reacted to the firm’s aggressive expansion in autonomous mobility technology.
Uber Technologies has launched its first robotaxi service in Europe, starting in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. This move allows users to book driverless rides directly through the Uber app. It is a significant step in the company’s push into autonomous mobility beyond its existing strongholds in the United States and China.
The service relies on self-driving technology from Pony.ai, while the local startup Verne handles fleet ownership and operations. For now, the service is limited to key areas of Zagreb. To ensure passenger safety during this early phase, a licensed operator remains behind the wheel, even though the vehicle is capable of autonomous driving. This is a common approach in the industry to gather data and build trust before removing the human safety driver entirely.
This launch is part of a larger strategy. Uber has previously announced a collaboration to deploy over 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities and potentially parts of the Middle East. This expansion highlights the company's attempt to reduce its long-term reliance on human drivers, which is the largest cost factor in its current ride-hailing business model.
Investors reacted positively to the news, with Uber’s stock (NYSE: UBER) rising 4.49% on August 19, 2026, to close at approximately $78.02. However, the path to full autonomy is not without hurdles. Uber faces intense competition from other global players like Waymo and potential future rivals like Tesla’s Cybercab.
Furthermore, the company must manage complex regulatory landscapes, safety concerns regarding AI in heavy urban traffic, and the financial pressure of funding these capital-intensive technology partnerships. The company’s use of debt to fuel its autonomous and delivery expansion projects will also be a key financial figure for shareholders to monitor in upcoming quarters. Investors will likely track the speed of the rollout to other cities, the regulatory environment in Europe, and whether these new partnerships can effectively scale without significantly pressuring profit margins.