Can you book a driverless robotaxi in Zagreb? The new rides are tests
Passengers are riding in robotaxis without an onboard operator in Zagreb, but that does not yet amount to a generally bookable driverless service.
Pony.ai and Verne said on September 10 that they had started fully driverless test rides with passengers on public roads in Zagreb. The key word for anyone hoping to book a ride is “test.” The announcement describes a new operating stage, not a citywide service that any passenger can order without an operator. The commercial service launched earlier had an onboard autonomous-vehicle operator. Removing that person for passenger tests is a meaningful step, but it does not change the stated status of the whole public service.
According to the companies, the announced route runs for 22 km, connecting Verne’s headquarters and a business district with Zagreb airport. They say the passenger tests have the Croatian approvals required for this stage. That defined corridor helps explain the scope of the news: the release identifies where the tests take place, while making no claim that unmanned trips are available across Zagreb or on demand to the general public.
For a fleet manager, the distinction affects how vehicles are staffed. A supervised commercial ride still puts an operator in each car; a driverless passenger test runs without that onboard role. Pony.ai and Verne intend to add routes and work toward fully driverless commercial operation. Until that later step is announced, the practical answer to a general booking question remains no.