(Editor’s note: This post about Verne is part of Dispatches’ Tech Tuesday series. We cover tech because so many of our highly skilled internationals are engineers and innovators.)
The words “autonomous driving” sound like something from a sci-fi film, with flashes of bizarrely designed vehicles flitting about without the need for a driver at all. If those films are to be believed, these cars would also be flying, but even in spite of Ron Weasley’s escapades with the flying Ford Anglia in Harry Potter, we’ve not quite got that far.
Yet.
An interesting Croatian startup called Verne, however, has taken the first impressive steps as far as this piece of innovation goes. The idea of autonomous vehicles whipping along the roads could perhaps be pictured somewhere in high tech South Korea, or amid the flashing lights of Japan’s streets. The robotaxi industry currently is ruled by Waymo, a Google subsidiary based in The Valley.
Instead, the Croatian capital city will be the location of that launch, which is something very few could have ever imagined a decade ago. Using the Mobileye Drive platform, a full autonomous ecosystem, a specialised app and all of the necessary infrastructure will have all eyes on Zagreb in 2026.
Data driven is not just a cliché
Verne robotaxis are transforming how we think about city driving. They use the Mobileye Drive autonomous platform, already in use by Volkswagen and other auto manufacturers. The system uses redundancy – both a camera system and a radar-lidar system – to ensure safety. The interior has two seats because research shows most ride-hailing transactions involve two people. There is no conventional dashboard, no steering wheel and no pedals, of course. Instead, there is an ultra-wide 43-inch display for entertainment and information about the journey, according to the Verne website.
Verne’s 28,500-square-meter production facility is currently under construction at the VGP Park near Zagreb, and the current plan is to launch their robotaxis next year. The Verne production facility, which spans 10 hectares, is otherwise the first investment in Croatia by VGP, a pan-European semi-industrial real estate and logistics provider. It will boast state of the art equipment for robotaxi manufacturing, further cementing Croatia’s already blossoming position on the digital and green tech map of Europe.
“The construction of the Verne large-scale production factory is a strategically important step for our company and a significant contribution to the development of a future-oriented automotive industry in Croatia,” said Verne CEO Marko Pejkovic.
This will be the first factory of its kind in the region, positioning Croatia as a key player in the modern automotive industry. Verne vehicles for all markets will be produced in Croatia and exported globally in collaborating with VGP, an industry leader whose in-house technical expertise is crucial to the successful implementation of this complex project, from development to property management. Construction of the Verne factory, its maintenance costs, along with additional resources Verne will invest in equipment are entirely funded through private investments and are not connected to European Union funding.
When you imagine the Croatian car scene, the only person who will likely spring to mind is Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac. There are two reasons for that. The first is because he’s done the impossible by creating some of the world’s most incredible hypercars in a country which had no automotive industry to speak of. The second is because so far, he’s been the only one engaged in the field at all. So, probably won’t come as much of a shock to learn that Rimac is also heavily engaged in Verne’s venture, and through Bugatti Rimac, he’s turning his attention to robotaxis.
Mothership
Mate Rimac founded Verne alongside Marko Pejkovic and the designer of the famous Nevera hypercar, Adriano Mudri. The trio wanted to position the startup as the provider of a totally redefined approach to autonomous mobility along busy city roads. As if this bold approach wasn’t already sci-fi coded enough, the future Verne robotaxis will all be taken care of by the “Mothership,” a special maintenance facility that will also be constructed in Zagreb.
At the Mothership, the cars will undergo thorough inspections, be cleaned, repaired if needed, and fully charged in order to be ready for their next use. The proprietary app will allow the user to not only track their vehicle in real time without fearing cancellation, but select the vehicle temperature they desire, and even a particular interior scent!
Mate Rimac and co will undoubtedly have the world’s attention firmly focused on Croatia, and particularly Zagreb, by the time 2026 rolls around. Having named the company after French writer Jules Verne, known as the “man who invented the future”, the trio are marking what seemed impossible, possible.
The fact that it’s all taking place in Croatia, a country that is slowly making a name for itself on the tech scene, but that few really know anything about outside of tourism, makes that achievement wildly more spectacular.
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Lauren Simmonds
Lauren Simmonds is the editor of Total Croatia News, the largest English language portal in Croatia. She lives in Zagreb, Croatia, and is a translator, content writer, interpreter and the co-author of "Croatia - A Survival Kit for Foreigners," which was published in 2022.
