German rental cars will soon be delivered remotely by ‘gamers’
Published on Oct 04, 2025 at 11:03 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Oct 02, 2025 at 2:34 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
German rental car company Vay is using fully-remote drivers to deliver EVs to customers.
Unlike the autonomous vehicles you get with Waymo, Vay cars do have drivers – they’re just not sat behind the wheel.
The system is simple, you order a rental via the app and a remote driver will drive it to your location.
Vay is currently up and running in Las Vegas and plans to expand into Berlin in the near future.
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Those with ‘gaming experience’ make better remote drivers
While you’ve likely heard lots about the newly launched Tesla Robotaxi, and Waymo’s rapidly expanding network, you might not have heard of German rental car company Vay.
The company was founded in 2018 with the aim of transforming mobility in Europe.
Fast-forward to 2024, and the company officially launched in Las Vegas, offering remote-rider delivered rentals in just a few clicks.
So, when you want a car you can order one on the app and it appears like magic at your chosen location.
But behind the scenes, the car is being driven by one of Vay’s specially trained remote drivers.
“Vay’s remote driving technology enables a Remote Driver to drive a vehicle from afar,” the company explains on its website.
“Professionally trained Remote Drivers sit at a Remote Driving Station with a steering wheel, pedals, and other vehicle controls developed to meet automotive industry standards.”
Once one trip is complete, the remote driver can simply switch out to another job, without having to physically move.
In an interview with the Guardian, Thomas von der Ohe said that the company has had no problems attracting folks to take on the remote driver roles, and said many had made the switch from Uber and other conventional taxi companies.
“People see this as a job of the future. They get bathroom breaks and lunch breaks, they get to work in a team rather than on their own,” he said.
Meanwhile, one driver – who has clocked up hundreds of miles for the company – told the outlet that those who had gaming experience were quicker at picking up the necessary skills.
The German rental car company is expanding into Europe
Currently up and running in Las Vegas, Vay is gearing up to land in Germany soon.
Earlier this year, lawmakers in Germany passed new legislation allowing the commercial operation of remote-controlled vehicles in pre-approved areas by qualified drivers.
Commenting on the news, von der Ohe said he and the company were ‘raring to go’.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
