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STORY: :: Croatian startup Project 3 Mobility presents a self-driving robotaxi ‘Verne’

:: Set up by the founder of Croatian EV maker Rimac Group

:: the two-seat electric vehicle is expected to launch in 2026

:: Zagreb, Croatia

:: June 26, 2024

:: Mate Rimac, Rimac Group CEO

"We have decided to make a two-seater to use the space for the comfort and safety as much as possible, because 90% of rides are with one or two people. It has a 60 kilowatt hour LFP battery pack that can provide 14 hours of driving in the city, so that it's more than enough for daily use."

:: Marko Pejkovic / CEO and co-founder, Project 3 Mobility

"We already have 11 cities that have said, basically said to us, we want your service in our city. We're talking to more than 30 cities, and each one of these cities is really unique.”

The startup expects that its fully autonomous two-seat electric vehicle Verne will be able to run urban robotaxi services, complete with an app for consumers and a hub for charging, cleaning and maintenance, starting first in Zagreb.

Rimac said P3's 300 employees have been working for five years to develop the car from scratch, using self-driving software from Israel-based Mobileye Global.

Zagreb and 10 other cities around the world have already signed contracts for Verne taxis, named after the writer of 'Around the World in Eighty Days'. Talks with 20 more cities are underway, said P3 CEO Marko Pejkovic.