Remote-Driving Startup Vay Secures up to US$410 Million from Grab

Berlin-based startup Vay Technology GmbH (“Vay”), which enables remote-controlled delivery of rental cars to customers, has secured a major investment from Singaporean tech giant Grab Holdings Limited (“Grab”): US$60 million upfront, with up to US$350 million in additional funding tied to performance milestones.

Vay’s model pairs remote human “teledrivers” with rental fleets. Cars are delivered to customers via remote driving, after which the user takes the wheel for the trip. Vay says this hybrid approach can cut costs by roughly 50% compared to traditional ride-hailing services. After launching in Las Vegas in January 2024, the company is now targeting a broader U.S. rollout, focusing on new cities, regulatory approvals and revenue growth to unlock Grab’s milestone-based funding.

For Grab, which does not operate in the U.S. directly, the deal offers a strategic entry in the next generation mobility infrastructure. The partnership also aims to leverage Vay’s driving data to refine AI-based vehicle-control systems, supporting Grab’s wider autonomous-mobility ambitions in Southeast Asia.

While fully autonomous robotaxis may still be years away, Vay’s remote-driving model is designed for the “in-between” phase, serving customers who enjoy driving but prefer not to own a car. With Grab’s backing, Vay is positioning itself to scale into new markets and build what it describes as a global remote-driving platform.