Teleoperated rentals: Vay to shake up Europe’s market
Vay’s teleoperated car rentals set to launch in Berlin
Teleoperated rentals: Vay to shake up Europe’s market
Vay is launching teleoperated, remote-driven car rentals in Europe under new German laws. Tested in Las Vegas and Antwerp, with Berlin rollout slated for 2025.
2025-09-29T00:44:51+03:00
2025-09-29T00:44:51+03:00
2025-09-29T00:44:51+03:00
Europe’s car rental market is on the cusp of a shake-up. German company Vay is rolling out a service where vehicles arrive with no one behind the wheel—the cars are driven remotely by operators seated at consoles with three screens and a set of pedals, not unlike a driving simulator.The idea got the go-ahead after Germany updated its laws, allowing teleoperated cars to run in specially approved zones starting in December 2025. Unlike Waymo’s fully autonomous robotaxis in the U.S., a human still holds the reins here—just from an office, not the cabin. It’s a pragmatic middle ground that eases the leap from traditional rentals to full autonomy.Vay uses modified Kia e‑Niro crossovers fitted with cameras and sensors, and caps speed at 40 km/h for safety. Once a car is dropped off, the operator switches to the next assignment. The company even released a promo video to show the concept in action.The system has already been tested in Las Vegas, and the fleet is growing in Antwerp as Vay prepares a large-scale launch in Berlin. Founder Thomas von der Ohe says the service could replace a family’s second car and make rentals more affordable. He described the operator role as a job of the future, with regular working conditions and safety.
Vay, teleoperated car rentals, remote-driven cars, Europe car rental market, Germany law 2025, Berlin rollout, Kia e-Niro, operator-driven service, robotaxi alternative, Las Vegas tests, Antwerp fleet
2025
Michael Powers
news
Vay’s teleoperated car rentals set to launch in Berlin
Vay is launching teleoperated, remote-driven car rentals in Europe under new German laws. Tested in Las Vegas and Antwerp, with Berlin rollout slated for 2025.
Michael Powers, Editor
Europe’s car rental market is on the cusp of a shake-up. German company Vay is rolling out a service where vehicles arrive with no one behind the wheel—the cars are driven remotely by operators seated at consoles with three screens and a set of pedals, not unlike a driving simulator.
The idea got the go-ahead after Germany updated its laws, allowing teleoperated cars to run in specially approved zones starting in December 2025. Unlike Waymo’s fully autonomous robotaxis in the U.S., a human still holds the reins here—just from an office, not the cabin. It’s a pragmatic middle ground that eases the leap from traditional rentals to full autonomy.
Vay uses modified Kia e‑Niro crossovers fitted with cameras and sensors, and caps speed at 40 km/h for safety. Once a car is dropped off, the operator switches to the next assignment. The company even released a promo video to show the concept in action.
The system has already been tested in Las Vegas, and the fleet is growing in Antwerp as Vay prepares a large-scale launch in Berlin. Founder Thomas von der Ohe says the service could replace a family’s second car and make rentals more affordable. He described the operator role as a job of the future, with regular working conditions and safety.
