Imagine hopping into a cab, closing the door, and realizing there is nobody in the driver's seat. 🤖 While that sounds like a scene from a sci-fi movie, it is becoming a reality in Croatia! For nearly a month, the city of Zagreb has been the playground for Europe's first commercial robotaxi service.
Powered by advanced tech from the Chinese mainland, the service is being rolled out by a company called Verne. While autonomous rides have been a thing in the United States and the Chinese mainland for years, Europe is finally joining the party. 🥳
Currently, the service is in a phased rollout. This means that while the cars are designed to be fully autonomous, a human "operator" is still hanging out behind the wheel just in case things get a bit too wild on the road. Think of them as the ultimate safety net! 🛡️
Zagreb's traffic can be pretty chaotic with its tricky intersections, but the robo-taxis are handling it like pros. Filip Cindric, Verne's head of country operations, says most rides are completed without any human intervention at all. The stats are looking seriously impressive: 90% of riders have given the service four or five stars, and there have been zero collisions over tens of thousands of kilometers! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As we move further into 2026, it is clear that the way we get around is changing. Whether you are a student commuting to class or a traveler exploring the hidden gems of Croatia, the future of urban mobility is officially here and it is looking smooth. 🌍✨
Reference(s):
Chinese-powered commercial robotaxi service rolls out in Croatia
cgtn.com
