Croatia’s first autonomous vehicle factory takes shape in Zagreb
- by croatiaweek
- in Business
(Photo: Verne)
Zagreb, February 11, 2025 – Construction of the first autonomous vehicle production facility in Croatia has made good progress on a 28,500-square-meter site within VGP Park Zagreb, in Lučko.
This project is a collaboration between Verne, a Croatian company developing an innovative ecosystem for urban autonomous mobility, and VGP, a pan-European provider of high-quality logistics and semi-industrial real estate.
At the new 10-hectare business park in Lučko, the works are progressing on a facility for the large-scale production of autonomous electric vehicles.
(Photo: Verne)
“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. This is the first factory of its kind in the region, positioning Croatia as a key player in the modern automotive industry.
Verne vehicles for all markets will be produced in Croatia and exported globally. We are pleased to collaborate with VGP, an industry leader whose in-house technical expertise ensures the successful implementation of this complex project, from development to property management.
It’s important to mention that the construction of the Verne factory, its maintenance costs, along with additional resources Verne will invest in equipment are entirely funded through private investments and are not connected to EU funding”, Marko Pejković, CEO and Co-founder of Verne.
(Photo: Verne)
The start of construction at VGP Park Zagreb marks 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 factory will be on a long-term lease, which is a standard business arrangement for industrial facilities.
The production facility, that aims to obtain the BREEAM Excellent certification and comply to EU Taxonomy, will be equipped with state-of-art technology for manufacturing, assembly and testing of Verne autonomous vehicles.
(Photo: Verne)
The realisation of this project will bring numerous benefits to Croatia and represents a significant step forward in the development of digital and green production technologies. Upon completion, the factory is expected to create up to 400 positions.
The end of construction works is planned for the end of this year, while the factory will start operating in 2026, according to the project timeline.
Initially, Verne will produce several hundred vehicles. The production volume will increase over time, following the development and scaling up of the project.
