Revolutionary Rental Model Transforms Urban Mobility: Vay Launches Europe’s First Remote-Driven Car Service

German remote-driving startup Vay is ushering in a new era of urban mobility, launching Europe’s first commercial remote-driven rental car service as Germany’s pioneering remote control vehicle ordinance comes into effect December 1, 2025. This innovation comes as the country leads the continent by introducing a comprehensive legal framework to license remote-driven vehicles on public roads, known as the Road Traffic Remote Control Ordinance (StVFernLV).vay+3

A Transformative Rental Model
Unlike traditional car sharing, Vay customers request an electric vehicle via the app. A trained “teledriver” then remotely delivers the vehicle to the user’s location using a control center equipped with video feeds, a steering wheel, and pedals. After driving, the customer ends the trip, and the remote operator takes control for parking or next-client delivery. Tests in Las Vegas show users appreciate seamless, affordable, door-to-door mobility at about half the cost of ride-hailing or conventional rentals.vay+3

Global Success and Expansion
After successfully deploying its service in Las Vegas (over 17,000 rides since January 2024 ), Vay expanded fleet size and opened a major production facility to keep pace with demand. In Europe, it partnered with Belgium’s Poppy Mobility to demonstrate the model’s viability and plans further expansion across the continent.money.usnews+5

Backed by Major Investment
In October 2024, Vay secured €34 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under the EU’s InvestEU guarantee programme, underscoring both investor confidence and the scalability of its vision. The funds will help Vay advance its technology, strengthen development teams, and boost deployment across European cities.eib+4

Comprehensive Regulation and Safety
The new German ordinance permits testing and commercial operation under strict guidelines: a five-year trial period, maximum speeds of 80 km/h, robust backup systems, and mandatory operator training including “cyber sickness” mitigation and technical skills. Operators must be at least 21 years old and meet stringent standards for licensing and safety.electrive+3

A New Mobility Profession
Remote driving is also creating a new workforce: many operators are former ride-hailing, taxi, or truck drivers drawn by hourly wages, regular shifts, and improved work-life balance. The Vay Remote Driving Academy ensures that remote drivers are comprehensively trained for safety and real-world conditions.vay+1

Industry and Policy Endorsements
Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Transport, highlighted the new rules as a way to “enable innovation without losing sight of safety and responsibility,” emphasizing the ordinance as an essential step toward mainstreaming remote and autonomous vehicle technology.heise+3

Looking Ahead
Vay’s regulatory and commercial milestones present a vision for more flexible, sustainable, and user-friendly urban mobility. By leveraging Germany’s progressive legislation, strong institutional partnerships, and a record of U.S. success, Vay is poised to transform how cities move—where convenience meets both safety and environmental priorities.vay+3