Verne, the autonomous subsidiary of Croatian automotive manufacturer Rimac, has begun construction an autonomous vehicle factory near Zagreb, Croatia.
The plant will reportedly enable the brand to operate large-scale production of autonomous electric vehicles. It will be built in VGP Park Zagreb as part of a collaboration with European developer of logistics and semi-industrial real estate provider VGP.
Marko Pejković, CEO and Co-founder of Verne, said:
“The construction of the Verne large-scale production factory is a strategically important step for our company and a significant contribution to the development of a future-oriented automotive industry in Croatia…Verne vehicles for all markets will be produced in Croatia and exported globally.
Last year Rimac announced plans to develop its own robotaxi service which claims to be an “ecosystem” approach with three key elements: a fully-autonomous electric vehicle, a mobility service app, and specialised infrastructure.
However Verne is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rimac, with other investors including South Korean car manufacturer Kia and Middle East investors Tasaru Mobility Investments and Elaf Auto.
The construction will be VGP’s first investment in Croatia. The production facility for autonomous electric vehicles will be built according to Verne’s requirements and specifications, while the factory building will be owned by VGP.
The end of construction works is planned for the end of this year, with the factory expected to begin operations in 2026.
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