Video Transcript
Rimac announced the launch of Verne, the company’s first robotaxi. InsideEVsreportedthat the Croatian automotive manufacturer expects to roll out the vehicle in 2026.
Rimac calls the project “Urban Autonomous Mobility Ecosystem,” and the company’s chief design officer, Adriano Mudri, stresses that the electric robotaxi is not a car, but rather a “room on wheels.”
Still, Mudri said that Rimac wanted the design to resemble a vehicle in an effort to mitigate public fear regarding self-driving cars. As a result, the two-seat, two-door Verne still looks like a car and features a windshield that extends to the car’s midpoint.
Verne’s exterior resembles a car, but the interior lacks pedals and a steering wheel and has a button for starting and stopping in lieu of a gear selector. Other features include a 43-inch screen and 17 speakers.
Hardware and software from autonomous driving technology developer Mobileye enable Verne’s self-driving ability. The company’s platform features sensors, cameras, and long-range lidar on Verne’s roof that can reportedly scan about a third of a mile in front of the vehicle.
Users will be able to order a Verne through an app and configure music, cabin temperature, scent, and lighting before the vehicle arrives. When the car arrives, it will display the rider’s name on the B-pillar. Users will also be able to end the ride whenever they want, and the car will stop when it is safe to do so.
Rimac said the Verne will first operate in Zagreb, Croatia, with plans to expand to other cities in the Middle East and Europe.
