Chinese self-driving company Pony.ai and Uber have said they plan to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across Europe. The plan was set out in a voluntary announcement Pony AI filed with the Hong Kong stock exchange on 14 August 2026, and it extends a partnership the two companies began in May 2025.

Where it starts

The starting point is Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Earlier in 2026 Pony.ai and Uber worked with Verne, a Croatian mobility company, to open what the filing calls Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service. Verne owns and runs the fleet there, and the filing says the service is coming soon to the Uber app.

From Zagreb, the partners intend to expand to four more European cities. They have not said which cities, and the filing gives no dates for when the fleet will reach 2,000 vehicles. Electrive notes that the expansion depends on regulatory approval in each market. The announcement also mentions plans for joint operations in the Middle East, again without detail.

Who does what

The arrangement splits the work three ways:

  • Pony.ai supplies its Level 4 self-driving system, meaning the car can drive itself without human input within a defined operating area, plus operational know-how.
  • Uber handles booking, payment and customer service through its app.
  • Local fleet partners, chosen market by market, may own the vehicles and run them day to day, as Verne does in Zagreb. How the cars are funded and owned may vary by country.

Neither the filing nor Electrive names the vehicle models that will be used in the European fleet.

Pony.ai’s wider position

In China, Pony.ai runs paid robotaxi services with no one in the driver’s seat in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, according to Electrive. Separately from the Uber deal, Pony.ai began a pilot in Luxembourg in June 2026 with Stellantis and Bolt, testing Level 4-capable Peugeot e-Traveller vehicles and linked to a ride-hailing app.

The announcement is a statement of intent rather than a timetable: each city will need its own approvals, a local operator and time to build up services.

What it means for the UK

The UK is not mentioned in Pony.ai’s announcement or in Electrive’s report, so there is no sign yet that Pony.ai robotaxis are heading for British roads through this deal.

If a Chinese operator did want to run passenger services here, the legal route now exists. The Automated Vehicles (Permits for Automated Passenger Services) Regulations 2026 came into force on 15 May 2026. They set out how permits for taxi- and private hire-like automated services in England are renewed, varied, suspended or withdrawn, with permits lasting up to five years and some needing local authority consent.

What is not known is whether Pony.ai or Uber will apply for a UK permit, which vehicles would be used, and how a Chinese-developed system would be assessed for safety and data handling here. Until a UK city is named, this is a European story to watch rather than a service British riders can expect soon.