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Having opened a new chapter in Bugatti’s history, Rimac is now turning its attention to the other end of the automotive sector. The company has launched a brand called Verne, created to develop and operate a fleet of autonomous electric taxis in some of the world’s most populous cities.
Named after Jules Verne, a French poet and novelist who died in 1905, the division is the brainchild of Mate Rimac and was previously called Project 3 Mobility. Verne’s robotaxi is a wedge-shaped two-seater built on a specially designed platform and powered by an electric motor. Specifications haven’t been released yet, but the brand noted that its electric vehicle is designed exclusively for autonomous ridesharing—it has no steering wheel or pedals, and drivers won’t be able to walk into a Verne dealership and buy one of its cars to drive to work. The self-driving parts include an armada of cameras, radars, and lidar, as well as Mobileye’s Drive software platform. Verne notes that the system is versatile enough to adapt to different weather conditions, different road types, and even local driving styles.
Inside, there’s room for two passengers on reclining seats, a center console with a tablet and several buttons, and a 43-inch screen that stretches across most of the dashboard. Most robo-taxis we’ve seen so far have accommodated four or more passengers, so Verne’s two-seater layout may seem odd at first. The company explains that there’s a good reason for this: “The data shows that nine out of ten trips are used by one or two people,” explains Adriano Mudri, the brand’s design chief. He is also responsible for the Rimac Nevera.
Designers focused on the user experience. The robotaxi is advertised as having more interior space than a Rolls-Royce and will feature a 17-speaker sound system, seats with five comfort levels so passengers can work, relax or rest, and a panoramic roof. Crucially, there’s a button called Median on the center console that passengers can use to start and stop the ride. Verne expects this feature will help convince users skeptical of autonomous technology to try the service; they’ll be just a button press away from getting out.
Verne’s service will be app-based and users will be able to customize each car before it arrives. For example, they will be able to adjust the ambient lighting and air conditioning. At the end of a shift, the robotaxis will autonomously return to what Verne calls the mothership. There, the cars will be inspected, cleaned, serviced and charged to ensure they are ready to drive the next day. That’s a smart decision, as a lack of cleanliness is one of the problems that plagued the car-sharing service Autolib’ in Paris, France, until it closed in 2018.
Verne will produce its robotaxi in a new factory currently being built near Zagreb, Croatia. Zagreb is also where Verne will start operations in 2026. After that, the company will expand across Europe and the Middle East. It has signed deals with 11 cities and is in talks with over 30 cities around the world about potentially setting up a mothership. It is not yet known whether it has its sights set on the US.
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