Autonomous vehicle startup Project 3 Mobility (P3), founded by the creator of Croatian electric vehicle manufacturer Rimac Group, unveiled its self-driving robotaxi, named Verne after the French author Jules Verne, on Wednesday. The launch is planned for 2026.
The Verne, a fully autonomous two-seat electric vehicle, is expected to provide urban robotaxi services. It will feature a consumer app and a hub for charging, cleaning, and maintenance, with initial operations starting in Zagreb.
“We aim to offer a luxury car experience within a compact car’s space,” said Mate Rimac, CEO of the Rimac Group, which is partially owned by Porsche AG, during the presentation. “Although it’s the size of a smaller vehicle, it boasts higher safety and comfort than a luxury car.”
Rimac shared that P3’s team of 300 employees has spent five years developing the vehicle from scratch, utilizing self-driving software from Israel-based Mobileye Global.
Zagreb, along with ten other cities worldwide, has already signed contracts for the Verne taxis, named in honor of the author of “Around the World in Eighty Days.” P3 CEO Marko Pejkovic mentioned that discussions with 20 additional cities are in progress.
The vehicle manufacturing plant will be established on the outskirts of Zagreb, according to the capital’s Mayor, Tomislav Tomasevic.
In February, P3 concluded its Series A funding round, raising approximately 100 million euros ($106.8 million) from private investors, including TASARU Mobility Investments, a division of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), South Korean automaker Kia, and Rimac Group.
Source: Reuters