Rimac presents Verne – autonomous electric robotaxi

Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili and Rimac Group, has presented Verne, an autonomous electric robotaxi. It is named after French author Jules Verne. The venture was launched by Mate Rimac and two of his closest colleagues and friends from Rimac Group – Marko Pejković, now CEO of Verne, and Adriano Mudri, the designer of Nevera and Chief Design Officer at Verne.

The unveiling event was held at the new Rimac Campus in Kerestinec, near Croatia’s capital Zagreb.

“The new service and its ecosystem are based on three key elements: a fully autonomous electric vehicle, a bespoke app, and specialized infrastructure. The first service will be launched in Zagreb in 2026,” Verne said.

After Zagreb, Verne is set to be rolled out in other European cities (first in the United Kingdom and Germany) and in the Middle East. The company said it already signed agreements with 11 cities in the European Union, UK and Middle East, and that it is negotiating with more than 30 cities worldwide that want to become partners.

Marko Pejković, CEO of Verne, said the new company is starting to build a production facility in Zagreb for the large-scale production of autonomous electric vehicles that would be deployed worldwide.

“The location of the production facility will be in the southern part of Zagreb. Our vehicles will be assembled, calibrated, and tested here”, Pejković explained.

In each city where Verne will operate, there will be a specialized infrastructure called the Mothership, according to the announcement.

The customers can personalize the vehicle’s settings via the app before ordering a ride

“Mothership is a home where our Verne vehicles are taken care of. Here is where the Verne vehicles get inspected daily, get maintained daily, get cleaned daily, and get charged, so that they are always safe, clean, and ready to take you on a new adventure. The first Mothership will be built in Zagreb, next to our HQ”, said Pejković.

According to the firm, the vehicle will be built on a completely new platform designed around safety and comfort, engineered solely for autonomous driving and using the Mobileye Drive autonomous platform.

Customers can personalize the vehicle’s settings via the app before ordering a ride. That way the vehicle will be set exactly how they like it with the comfort, lighting, temperature, and even scent, the founders pointed out.

Rimac: It frees up your travel time, allowing you to think, learn, or relax

Adriano Mudri, Chief Design Office at Verne, said the firm believes it’s not about being the first but creating the perfect customer experience.

“We want to make a difference with our holistic integrated approach, which is designed around the best possible experience,” he added.
The Verne vehicle will have two seats and an interior concept that completely redefines the idea of a vehicle space, the new firm revealed.

Mudri: We wanted to make the interior less automotive and more like a living room

“We wanted to make the interior less automotive and more like a living room. There is no typical dashboard, no steering wheel, and no pedals. But an ultra-wide 43-inch display that you can use. This is for entertainment but also to get information about the journey during the ride,” he explained.

According to Mate Rimac, the end result would be the best possible mobility experience for everyone.

“It frees up your travel time, allowing you to think, learn, or relax. Improving your life with every trip. We are shifting the attention from the technology itself to its benefits. Verne will transform travel time into a chance for personal growth, discovery, and enjoyment,” he stressed.