Pony.ai and Uber announced an expanded partnership to deploy over 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities, marking a shift from single-point validation in Zagreb toward scaled commercial operations.
The Core Deal: 2,000 Robotaxis for Five European Cities
On August 14, 2026, Pony.ai and Uber announced a significant expansion of their strategic partnership, with plans to deploy more than 2,000 Pony.ai robotaxis across five European cities. The move marks a major milestone in Pony.ai's global growth strategy and signals that Europe's autonomous driving industry is entering a new phase of large-scale deployment.
The expansion builds on existing commercial operations in Zagreb, Croatia. Future plans include five European cities—including Zagreb—with specific rollout schedules to be unveiled in stages. Soon, service in Zagreb will be integrated into the Uber platform, allowing local users to hail Pony.ai robotaxis directly through the app.
Beyond Europe, the companies also plan to deepen their collaboration in the Middle East to further extend their global operational footprint.
The Joint Fleet Model: Technology, Platform, and Operations
This partnership represents a breakthrough for the "joint fleet" model, which integrates the three core capabilities required for scaled robotaxi operations:
- Pony.ai: Supplies Level 4 autonomous driving technology and operational expertise
- Uber: Leverages its global mobility platform for user reach and a hybrid capacity network
- Local partners: Handle day-to-day fleet management
In May, the trio validated the model's feasibility in Europe through a collaboration with Croatian firm Verne, a Rimac Group company that owns and operates the fleet in Zagreb while Pony.ai provides the autonomous system and Uber handles ride distribution.
Pony.ai Founder and CEO Dr. James Peng said the expansion reflects a shared commitment to bringing safe, reliable robotaxi services to more European cities. Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber, noted that the next chapter for autonomous mobility is about moving from individual launches to repeatable commercial scale.
Why Europe? Why Now?
Pony.ai's accelerated European push is supported by multiple factors.
From a company fundamentals perspective, Pony.ai operates paid, fully driverless robotaxi services in China's four tier-one cities, where it has achieved city-wide breakeven unit economics in multiple markets. As of May 24, 2026, the company's robotaxi fleet had surpassed 1,700 vehicles. In Q4 2025, robotaxi revenue grew 160% year-over-year, while fare-charging revenue increased over 500%.
From a strategic timing perspective, Europe's autonomous driving regulatory framework is maturing, and consumer acceptance of autonomous services is gradually improving. Since launching commercial operations in Zagreb on April 8, 2026, the service has covered approximately 90 square kilometers around central Zagreb, including the airport, with operating hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
| Dimension | Zagreb (April 2026) | Five-City Expansion Plan (August 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Count | Initial small-scale deployment | 2,000+ vehicles |
| Service Area | ~90 sq km | Five cities (incl. Zagreb) |
| Operating Hours | 7:00-21:00 | To be announced in phases |
| Hailing Method | Verne App | Uber platform + Verne App |
| Safety Operator | In-vehicle operator (early phase) | Subject to regulatory approval |
It is worth noting that the early Zagreb service operates with trained autonomous-vehicle operators on board. Fully driverless operations remain subject to regulatory approvals and safety benchmarks. Verne is responsible for market readiness and obtaining European regulatory approvals, meaning the 2,000-plus figure is a deployment objective rather than evidence that permits have already been secured across all markets.
Competitive Landscape and Commercial Outlook
Uber's autonomous driving ambitions extend beyond Pony.ai. The company recently partnered with UK-based Wayve to launch a robotaxi service in London, while competitors are working on bringing autonomous taxi services to Denmark and Germany.
Pony.ai previously stated it aims to deploy more than 3,000 robotaxis across over 20 cities globally by the end of 2026. If the European target of 2,000-plus vehicles is delivered as described, it would represent a substantial share of that global goal. The company has also set a target to reduce total robotaxi vehicle manufacturing costs—including the vehicle, battery system, and autonomous driving hardware suite—to below 230,000 yuan by 2027, viewed as critical for large-scale commercialization.
Beyond robotaxis, Pony.ai's other business lines are also growing. Its Robotruck division generated 70.33 million yuan in Q1 revenue, up 31% year-on-year. The intelligent solutions segment posted Q1 revenue of 107 million yuan, representing a 246.5% year-on-year increase. Autonomous driving domain controller shipments expanded to more than six times the level recorded a year earlier.
For buyers and investors tracking global autonomous driving progress, the Pony.ai-Uber European expansion represents an important step for Level 4 autonomous driving from "technology validation" toward "commercial closure." Industry updates are available through EX1000.COM.
