Uber launches autonomous rides in Zagreb, its first in Europe

Uber’s autonomous vehicle ambitions just crossed the Atlantic, in a manner of speaking. On August 19, 2026, the company launched its first-ever autonomous rides in Europe, starting in Zagreb, Croatia, giving riders the ability to book a self-driving car directly through the Uber app for the first time on the continent. The service is a three-way collaboration: Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving technology, Verne handles fleet management, and Uber provides the booking infrastructure most riders already have on their phones. How the Zagreb rollout works For now, every autonomous vehicle on Zagreb’s streets comes with a licensed safety operator seated inside. Full driverless operations are the stated goal, but regulators and operational realities mean the human co-pilot stays put for the immediate term. The vehicles are operating in key areas of the city, including Zagreb’s city centre. Riders book through the standard Uber app, with no special download or separate platform required. The partnership that made this possible was formalized back in March 2026, giving the three companies roughly five months to go from signed agreements to paying passengers. Verne launched what it des...