China: Pony.AI Wants Toe In European Water

InnovationTransportationChina: Pony.AI Wants Toe In European WaterByBrad Templeton,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Brad Templeton, who was early at Waymo, covers transportation's futureFollow AuthorApr 21, 2026, 01:04pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SHENZHEN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 22: An ARCFOX Alpha T5 Robotaxi of Pony.ai, autonomous driving technology company, is parked on the road on November 22, 2025 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)VCG via Getty ImagesPony.AI is doing their first European deployment in Zagreb in concert with Croation robotaxi company Verne because it’s a quick way to demonstrate themselves on European streets, according to Leo Wang, the CFO, who spoke at the Ride AI conference April 15 in San Francisco. Verne had originally planned to launch a robotaxi service with their own custom built 2-seater robotaxi and Mobileye Drive, but the new service will use the Pony.AI self driving system and a Chinese Arcfox car, with ride-hail available through both the Uber app and a Verne app. Verne says it will continue development on the 2-seater for later deployment.ForbesVerne Plans Croatian Robotaxi, Dropping Mobileye With Chinese SystemBy Brad TempletonPony.AI is very interested in the European robotaxi market for good reasons. Europeans are rich, and unlike the USA, are open to Chinese vehicles and robotaxi companies operating there. The Chinese robotaxi market is large, but already getting competitive. Human driven rides in China are cheap and compete strongly with robotaxis. In lower income nations, the human driven taxi and the private car are both more affordable. Some people have openly wondered how robotaxis will be profitable even at high USA prices. Robotaxi developers disagree, and are investing billions for the profits they plan to see in the future, but...