Hypercar brand Rimac Automobili unveils the Verne Robotaxi

Rimac Automobili is an automotive brand headquartered in Croatia specializing in electric sports cars. You may have heard of or seen its popular models like the Rimac Concept One or the more recent Rimac Nevera. Both these cars have put the Rimac name in the spotlight for their blistering performance, in fact, the Concept One previously earned the title of being the world’s fastest production EV for some time, a title that was also earned when its successor, the Nevera, clocked 412 km/h. 

But, we’re not talking about Rimac’s crazy hypercars today, we’re focusing on something a little smaller and slower. Introducing, the Verne Robotaxi, Rimac’s venture into autonomous, electric transport. Avid readers would know that the company’s name pays homage to Jules Verne, the renowned 19th-century French author known for his sci-fi adventure novels.

Starting with the looks, you’ll notice that the Verne has an unorthodox shape. According to the company, this is because they went with a cabin-first design approach, meaning they styled the car from the inside out. You'll also notice that the Verne doesn't have side mirrors or windshield wipers. As an autonomous EV, it eliminates features that are only necessary for human drivers. Consequently, the Verne Robotaxi also lacks pedals and a steering wheel.

Because the Robotaxi doesn’t have a steering wheel, it has space for more amenities. The main one inside is a 43-inch screen that dominates the dashboard, complemented by a 17-speaker sound system, and the seats come with features to enhance comfort.

Currently, Rimac has yet to reveal the fully electric powertrain of the Verne concept, but the self-driving system was developed in collaboration with Mobileye. The Verne concept utilizes Mobileye Drive autonomous architecture, which includes lidar sensors, cameras, and radar. The company claims this system is designed to handle various road types and weather conditions while adapting to local driving styles. The last bit is quite a head-scratcher as to how it will learn local driving styles, so for now, let’s just imagine a fully autonomous taxi that trains itself by watching Filipino drivers.

Verne will launch its first robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia by 2026. Following this, Verne aims to expand its robotaxi service across Europe and the Middle East. 

While an autonomous taxi offers convenience, there's still nothing quite like the thrill of driving your own car. If you're in the market for a new ride, check out the AutoDeal Car Guide. You can browse a wide selection of cars available in the Philippines and score great deals, all from the comfort of your home.