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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at Rimac Automobili’s headquarters, Source: European Commission

Zagreb wants to be the world’s first city to have a driverless taxi service

Zagreb wants to be the world’s first city to have a driverless taxi service

Rimac Automobili has received a grant worth EUR 200 million as part of the country’s recovery and resilience plan

Earlier this year, the European Commission presented a positive assessment of Croatia’s recovery and resilience plan. As part of this plan, the country’s car manufacturer Rimac Automobili will receive a grant worth EUR 200 million from the European Union. Using these funds, Rimac Automobili’s sister company P3 Mobility will develop a driverless Robotaxi service.

Driverless taxis in Zagreb

In a press release, the car manufacturer noted that the development of this green and digital service began several years ago, with the first demo being completed in 2020. Now, the company has entered into several partnerships with well-known companies such as KIA Motors and Microsoft, among others.

More importantly, Rimac Automobili is further working on signing agreements with around 20 cities in Europe and the Middle East. These cities will then be among the first in the world to gain access to the driverless Robotaxi service.

Although negotiations with other countries are currently underway, Rimac Automobili will first unveil the innovative, smart mobility service in Zagreb. Thus, the company hopes that the Croatian capital will become the world’s first city to have access to the driverless Robotaxi service in 2024.

The future of mobility

Approving the country’s recovery and resilience plan and the smart mobility project, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited Rimac Automobili’s headquarters in Sveta Nedelja. There, she praised the work of the car manufacturer, noting that it is the future of mobility:

“I have seen the future of mobility here present in Croatia that is the answer to climate change. It is protecting the environment; it is the answer to the needs of digitalisation because it works with smart connectivity. It works with artificial intelligence in a way that serves people and indeed I have seen a concept that gives back to people time, safety, affordability.”

Similarly, Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković praised the work of Rimac, noting that the company proves that the country has young and creative innovators who are building on the legacy of Nikola Tesla.

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