A surprise ripple ran through the autonomous vehicle industry when Mate Rimac, the electric car pioneer known for his lightning-fast hypercars, revealed his robotaxi concept.
This design, strikingly similar to Tesla’s robotaxi plans, surprised many. The resemblance went beyond looks, with both companies proposing features and app functionalities that mirrored each other.
This announcement, strategically timed just before Tesla’s robotaxi reveal, has ignited comparisons to OpenAI’s move of releasing a non-existent ChatGPT-4o right before Google debuted its AI assistant, Gemini.
Just like the phantom ChatGPT-4o, Rimac’s robotaxi service, with its 2026 launch target, appears to be a strategic maneuver to reserve a spot in the future of autonomous transportation.
Croatian electric hypercar manufacturer Rimac unexpectedly threw down the gauntlet to Tesla with the reveal of their Verne, a fully autonomous robotaxi.
This innovative design could cast a shadow over Tesla’s robotaxi, which is scheduled for August 8th. With details of Tesla’s offering still under wraps, Verne sets a high standard, potentially stealing Tesla’s thunder if their design falls short.
One area where Verne stands out is its self-driving system. Unlike some robotaxis that resemble rolling sensor arrays, Rimac utilizes Mobileye’s technology, which blends cameras, lidar, and radar seamlessly into the car’s sleek design.
Verne echoes Tesla’s choice of a two-seater layout, prioritizing efficiency for the typical ride scenario of one or two passengers.
The spacious interior boasts a giant 43-inch display for entertainment, alongside basic controls for starting and ending trips, a clear giveaway of the absence of a steering wheel and pedals that reflect Verne’s level 4 autonomous driving aspirations.
While the initial launch is slated for Zagreb, Croatia, in 2026 with plans to expand to other European and Middle Eastern cities, widespread adoption may be hindered by regulatory hurdles similar to those Tesla currently faces.