Robotaxis Arrive: Europe\u2019s First Commercial Deployment<\/strong><\/p>\n Europe has officially entered the autonomous mobility era. In Zagreb, the Croatian company Verne launched the first robotaxi service in Europe. This service uses the seventh-generation system from the Chinese firm Pony.ai<\/a>. The service allows the public to book and pay for fully autonomous rides using the Verne app.<\/p>\n The launch marks a shift from testing to real-world deployment. The service operates in a defined zone of around 90 square kilometers across central Zagreb, including the airport. It runs daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., according to company disclosures.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The fleet uses Arcfox Alpha T5 electric vehicles, built by BAIC and equipped with Pony.ai\u2019s Gen-7<\/a> autonomous driving technology. For safety, trained operators stay in the front seat during this early rollout. The system is fully autonomous for passengers in the back.<\/p>\n Each vehicle carries up to two passengers per trip, reflecting the controlled nature of this early deployment stage.<\/p>\n Verne, a spin-off from Rimac Group, operates the fleet. The company was originally planning a custom-built robotaxi<\/a> but has now launched using existing vehicle platforms. It has already tested dozens of prototype vehicles and is preparing for scale-up.<\/p>\n This launch is significant for Europe. Until now, autonomous ride-hailing<\/a> has been largely concentrated in the United States and China. Europe has been slower due to stricter safety rules and regulatory frameworks.<\/p>\n But the commercial rollout changes that narrative. As Verne\u2019s leadership noted, Europe now needs autonomous systems that move beyond pilots into real services.<\/p>\n Expansion is already planned. Partners plan to expand to thousands of robotaxis in over 20 cities worldwide. Uber<\/a> will also help with future deployments and investment talks. This suggests Zagreb is not the endpoint, but the starting point.<\/p>\n EV Sales Break Records as Fuel Prices Surge<\/strong><\/p>\n At the same time, Europe\u2019s electric vehicle market is accelerating at an unexpected pace.<\/p>\n In March, the region hit over 500,000 monthly EV sales for the first time. Registrations jumped about 37% from last year, reaching nearly 540,000 units, based on data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence<\/a>. The region\u2019s EV sales reached 1.2 million units in the first quarter, up 27% year-on-year.<\/p>\n This surge is not happening in isolation. Rising fuel costs are tied to geopolitical disruptions that have increased global oil prices. As petrol and diesel became more expensive, consumers increasingly shifted toward electric alternatives.<\/p>\n The response has been immediate in major markets.<\/p>\n In Germany<\/a>, the biggest car market in Europe, battery electric vehicle registrations soared 66.2% from last year. In March alone, over 70,000 units were registered, as reported by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA<\/a>). EVs now account for roughly 24% of all new car registrations in the country, overtaking petrol in monthly sales for the first time.<\/p>\n This is a major shift for a market that struggled just a year earlier. Germany cut subsidies in 2024, leading to a sharp drop in demand. Then, in 2026, it reversed the policy and reintroduced incentives of up to \u20ac6,000 for each electric vehicle<\/a>. At the same time, fuel prices surged. Diesel crossed \u20ac2.50 per litre, one of the highest levels on record.<\/p>\n Elsewhere in Europe, similar trends are visible.<\/p>\n The UK saw 86,120 new battery electric vehicle<\/a> registrations in March. This is a 24.2% increase compared to last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. EVs now represent over 22% of the UK market, although still below mandated targets for 2026.<\/p>\n Across the continent, fuel prices have become a key driver of change. Gasoline prices jumped about 17% in key EU countries. Diesel surged up to 30% in some areas. This followed supply issues tied to geopolitical tensions and unstable oil routes.<\/p>\n Even after oil prices<\/a> eased from earlier peaks near $120 per barrel, they remain significantly above pre-crisis levels, keeping pressure on consumers.<\/p>\n Online car platforms show how quickly sentiment is shifting. EV searches and inquiries have surged in Germany, the UK, and Spain. This shows a rising consumer urgency, not just slow adoption.<\/p>\n But questions remain about durability. Previous fuel-driven EV surges have faded once prices stabilized. This time, however, structural forces are stronger: tighter EU emissions rules, more affordable EV models, and expanding charging infrastructure are reinforcing demand.<\/p>\n A key economic factor is running cost. In markets like Belgium, driving an EV now costs 45\u201356% less per kilometre than petrol or diesel vehicles when charged at home.<\/p>\n Emissions Continue to Fall\u2014but Progress Is Uneven<\/strong><\/p>\n While transport electrification accelerates, Europe\u2019s emissions trend continues downward.<\/p>\n The European Commission reports that emissions under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS<\/a>) dropped by 1.3% in 2025. This decline continues a long-term trend in the bloc\u2019s industrial and energy sectors.<\/p>\n The EU ETS covers around 45% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions, including power generation, heavy industry, aviation, and maritime transport. It operates under a declining cap system designed to force emissions reductions over time.<\/p>\n Since 2005, emissions in covered sectors have fallen by roughly 50%, placing the EU broadly on track toward its 2030 target of a 62% reduction.<\/p>\n A major driver of recent progress is the power sector. Renewables continue to expand rapidly. Solar generation rose over 20% in 2025. Together, wind and solar made up about 30% of EU electricity. This marked the first time they surpassed fossil fuels in total share.<\/p>\n Overall, renewables<\/a> supplied roughly 48% of Europe\u2019s electricity in 2025, compared with declining fossil fuel contributions. Coal has seen the sharpest decline, falling to just 9.2% of electricity generation, down from nearly 25% a decade ago.<\/p>\n However, the transition is not linear.<\/p>\n![\"March-2026-EV-sales](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/March-2026-EV-sales-europe-from-BMI-300x201.jpg\"\/)
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Source: whicheve.net<\/p>\n![\"EU](\"https:\/\/carboncredits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/historical_and_projected_emissions_in_stationary_installations_under_the_eu_emissions_trading_system.png\")
Source: EU<\/p>\n![\"Europe](\"https:\/\/carboncredits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Europe-renewable-power-capacity-forecast-2030-300x201.webp\")
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![\"Eu](\"https:\/\/carboncredits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/eecxm_ind-5.png\")
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