Rimac Verne: Robotaxi for the Rich
A few years ago, robotaxis were the big future trend. Especially in the USA and Asia, taxi operators feared the downfall of the automotive Western world and the takeover of all city trips by autonomous shuttle services. But apart from never-ending test operations, hardly anything has happened so far. Indeed, in some cities in the USA and Asia, the first autonomous taxis without drivers are already on the move, but there is neither market relevance in Silicon Valley nor in Asian metropolises.
In Europe, this is set to change from 2026 – at least if Mate Rimac has his way. With "Verne," he presents the beautifully designed robotaxi of the future. A mobile luxury lounge for the short trip in the city, where you feel at least as at home as in your own four wheels. The ride-hailing service Verne is named after the well-known author Jules Verne.
Jules Verne was a role model for new travel and pushing boundaries
"It was not easy to find the right name for our new company that fits our vision. But once it clicked, the decision was easy to make. We named ourselves after Jules Verne, the famous author, who is said to be the man who invented the future," explains Adriano Mudri, Chief Design Officer, who also created the electric hypercar Rimac Nevera and added:
"Just as he used the theme of travel as a driving force for his stories, we use it as inspiration to design a future full of imaginative innovations and tangible successes. His belief in the future and his spirit awakened the curiosity of generations of scientists and explorers. He made things possible that sometimes seemed impossible."
Starting in Zagreb: From 2026
Robotaxis driving autonomously have so far seemed impossible for everyday life. This is set to change with the start in Zagreb by 2026, and from there Verne aims to conquer other cities and countries. Mate Rimac founded the company Verne together with his close friends and colleagues from the Rimac Group, Marke Pejkovic as the new CEO of Verne, and Adriano Mudri, who was responsible for the design.
Highly individual: Even the smell can be preset
Operation and function of the fully electric robotaxi are as known from the numerous model trials. The vehicle is ordered via a smartphone app and takes you from A to B as desired. Unlike many other ride-sharing providers, the Verne taxi can be customized in advance to the customer's specifications to make them feel as comfortable during the ride as in their own car. In this way, the vehicle is adjusted in terms of comfort, lighting, temperature, and even smell, as one likes. In the hope that a completely different scent was not desired before, or even worse: a foul-smelling person used Verne.
The basis is a completely new platform based on Mobileye Drive
The Verne taxi itself is based on a completely new platform designed entirely for safety and comfort and developed for autonomous driving on the Mobileye Drive platform. "The end result would be the best possible mobility experience for all. This means every customer receives better service than the best mobility service that only the wealthy enjoy," says Mate Rimac and adds:
"You will have a safe and reliable driver, a vehicle with more space and comfort than the best sedans today, and a service tailored in every way to your needs. It provides you time to think, learn, or relax."
After Zagreb, more cities will follow first in Germany, UK, and the Middle East, agreements already exist
The first city where Verne will launch, unsurprisingly for Mate Rimac, is Zagreb, where the company's headquarters are located. After that, it will expand to other cities – initially in the United Kingdom and Germany. Verne has already signed agreements with eleven cities in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East and is currently negotiating with more than 30 cities worldwide that want to become mobility partners. In each city where Verne expands after launching in Zagreb, there will be an infrastructure in place that coordinates the individual robotaxis from a so-called mothership.
A "Mothership" as a Base
Here, the Verne vehicles will be maintained, cleaned, and charged. The vehicles, a compact mobile lounge for up to two people, are produced in the newly created Rimac factory in the south of Zagreb and can be used worldwide for autonomous ride services.
Entry and exit from the Verne taxi are through electric sliding doors; inside, there are comfortable seats that can be adjusted in many ways as desired, while the passengers in the electric lounge look at a 43-inch screen, and the 17 speakers turn the lounge into a concert hall on the road. Gas pedal, mirrors, or steering wheel? None. Those who do not like entertainment on the large display can look out of the Verne taxi or through the round panoramic roof at the sky – or quietly ponder the future of robotaxis.
What does it mean?
The robotaxi doesn't quite take off: In the USA, it is often boycotted, in China, standard cars are being converted – but that's not really sexy. And so far, the desire to be driven from A to B driverlessly has also seemed to be lacking. Rimac now wants to "infuse" the topic from above – as a two-seater private lounge for the rich. But don't they prefer to drive their Rimac Nevera themselves?
The information about Verne was collected for us by Stefan Grundhoff; press-inform
Translated automatically from German.
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