Rimac's Verne Robotaxi Recognized Among World's Top 15

Rimac Group's robotaxi project, Verne, has earned a significant spot among the world's top autonomous taxi services, ranking 14th in the recent Road to Autonomy Robotaxi Index. This recognition comes as Verne continues to advance its commercial operations, having launched its service in Zagreb and actively pursuing expansion strategies.

The index, which evaluates global robotaxi leaders, saw Chinese companies dominate the top positions, with Baidu Apollo Go surpassing Google's Waymo. Verne secured 17.8 points, placing it within the elite group of relevant robotaxis worldwide. This achievement is considered a major acknowledgment within the industry, especially given the strong competition from established tech giants and emerging players.

Verne's ranking is attributed to its performance across key metrics, including commercialization (48/100), production (35/100), and safety (45/100). The report specifically notes Verne's success in building partnerships, establishing a regulatory framework, and developing a production strategy essential for market entry. The project benefits from a robust industrial and manufacturing infrastructure, providing a solid foundation for its operations.

Mate Rimac, founder of Rimac Group, acknowledged the challenging nature of predicting profitability in the robotaxi sector, describing it as an "adventure." However, he expressed confidence in the long-term perspective and the potential for a "great story." Verne's strategic partnerships with Uber as a fleet owner and operator, and Pony.ai for autonomous driving solutions, are crucial. Uber's integration into its global ride-hailing network will offer an additional booking option alongside the Verne app.

Verne initiated its first commercial robotaxi service in Europe in early April, following strategic partnerships announced in March. Initially, the service is available in the wider Zagreb area and at Zagreb Airport. While the vehicles operate autonomously, safety operators are present to ensure compliance with all safety standards and regulatory approvals. The vehicles are equipped with advanced navigation technology, including multiple cameras, lasers, and radars.

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It's difficult to even set precise deadlines for when this will become a profitable business. It's a kind of adventure, but all partners see potential in it. It will be a great story, but realistically it will take a lot of time. It would be unserious to predict when this will be a sustainable business model now.