Another one enters U.S. automotive industry this 2024. The ground-breaking "teledriving" service from Vay, a German business renowned for its innovative solutions, was introduced in the energetic city of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Vay launches its remote-driven car service in Las Vegas, it marks a significant milestone for the company, having secured a substantial $110 million in funding, thus unveiling its first commercial teledriving project in the US.

Vay Driveless Cars Journey Begin

Spearheading this ambitious endeavor is Thomas von der Ohe, Vay's co-founder and CEO, who believes there is a different, more effective approach to autonomous cars that challenges conventional thinking and diverges from the widely accepted idea of robotaxis.

Yahoo news shared the latest details on Vay driveless rental car service. This inventive driverless rental car service from Vay has already made its presence felt in Las Vegas, following the company's establishment of an office in the city last summer.

As of January, Vay's fleet of remotely operated vehicles is now at the disposal of customers, ready to be summoned and embarked upon with ease. Presently, the service area encompasses the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the vibrant arts district, allowing patrons to rent cars by the minute. ​

CEO Thomas von der Ohe envisions substantial growth, with Vay's vehicle fleet expected to reach the "low double digits" during the initial quarter of operation. ​Furthermore, reports shared that Vay, with its emphasis on urban transportation and shorter daytime trips, aims to compete with rideshare services in Las Vegas.

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The Vay launches remote-driven car service with a competitive pricing structure, offering rentals at just 30 cents per minute, supplemented by a 3-cent stopover fee. This stands in contrast to Halo Car's pricing of per hour or approximately 0 for a full day.

The average rideshare trip in Las Vegas typically costs around. Von Der Ohe sees their approach as distinct from the competition and focused on meeting the needs of urban commuters.

Reuters reported to date, Vay has secured approximately $110 million in investments from backers such as Kinnevik in Sweden, Coatue, and Eurazeo in France. They have carried out trials on both European and American roadways, employing remote drivers and operating without a human driver physically present in the vehicle.

Autonomous Driving Technology

Vay plans to progressively add autonomous features to its cars as it develops, using knowledge gathered from the affordable camera technology that is installed in its cars-as opposed to the more expensive lidar and radar systems that are frequently used by developers of autonomous vehicles.

According to von der Ohe, this transition will span a decade or two, during which human-machine interaction will coexist with autonomous driving once it reaches maturity, with teledriving constituting a significant component.

Additionally, Vay is in talks with manufacturers about the integration of capabilities like remote valet and associated services because it sees a significant demand for remote driving functionalities.

Von der Ohe highlights the potential for widespread adoption, suggesting that if every vehicle rolls off the production line equipped with teledriving capabilities, an on-demand tele-valet service could be offered to park the vehicle, and subsequently, the teledriver could safely chauffeur passengers home, particularly if they've consumed alcohol.

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