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Watch out Elon Musk. There’s another robotaxi play in town — and it’s backed by a highly-regarded name in the business of EVs.
Electric vehicle tech and hypercar maker Rimac has launched "Verne," an autonomous robotaxi startup named after author Jules Verne, the "father of science fiction." Verne (the startup) debuted its futuristic EV robotaxi at an event in Rimac’s hometown of Zagreb, Croatia. The sleek vehicle appears similar in size to a VW Golf, with a premium interior and Mobileye technology.
Verne is an “ecosystem” that includes three interrelated parts: an autonomous EV, a mobile-based app that consumers use to summon the robotaxi, and an infrastructure system called, as the company puts it, the “Mothership.” That's where the robotaxis will be serviced and maintained.
Verne will launch in Zagreb in 2026 with an aim to deploy the robotaxis worldwide.
But a key factor in the Verne formula — which makes the startup one Tesla (TSLA) needs to keep an eye on — is its main backer: Mate Rimac, the founder of his eponymous company. He's one of three founders alongside Verne CEO Marko Pejković and designer Adriano Mudri.
“[Verne] is a service that will be tailored to your needs in every possible way," Mate Rimac said in a statement. “We are shifting the attention from the technology itself to its benefits.”
Mate Rimac is no slouch in the EV world. He started his EV company, Rimac Automobili, in 2011 at the age of 23. The company’s $2.2 million Nevera EV hypercar has won numerous awards, and its innovative tech, from motors to inverters and other EV infrastructure, has been licensed to automakers like BMW.
Rimac, who an auto industry source calls “Elon Musk without the baggage,” is quietly building his empire. Rimac also recently entered a joint venture called Bugatti-Rimac with Porsche (POAHY), which owns luxury automaker Bugatti, of which Mate will be CEO.
Now Rimac has thrown its hat in the robotaxi ring, crucially a few months before Tesla and Elon Musk’s Aug. 8 debut of its taxi.
Musk has been adamant that Tesla’s robotaxi is key to unlocking trillions in additional value for the company. The question is whether Tesla’s offering will rival Rimac and its Verne autonomous EV.
The Verne EV looks the part and offers a luxurious interior, which at this point appears more plush than Tesla’s Model 3 or Model Y. The car uses sliding doors for ease of entry, and while there are no pedals, steering wheel, or traditional dashboard to speak of, there is instead a 43-inch widescreen display for infotainment purposes. For Tesla, rumors suggest a Cybertruck-like industrial look for the Musk’s robotaxi, which could be controversial.