Grab invests in remote car rental service Vay

The concept behind the Berlin-based remote control technology provider Vay is not complicated, but it emerged at a significant time, as robotaxi services have not yet reached their full potential. Vay operates a remote-controlled electric car rental service in Las Vegas, where users request a car via an app, drive it themselves and have it delivered and parked by remote drivers. Thus, drivers only do the actual driving part, while a remote-working driver can then log in and deal with parking and getting the car to the customer. Vay has been active in Las Vegas since 2024.This will not mark the end of the financial ties between the companies, as Grab has already stated that it potentially would invest another $350 million, “subject to Vay and Grab reaching agreed financial and operational milestones within the first year post-Closing.”Grab will likely prove a good choice as a partner, as the company currently has operations in eight different Asian countries, covering over 800 cities. As part of the investment deal, Grab will also utiilize its “marketing, product development, fleet management, and go-to-market expertise to support Vay’s growth in the U.S., while exploring how Vay’s service model can complement Grab’s suite of mobility services in Southeast Asia.”“We believe the future of mobility in Southeast Asia will be a hybrid model that relies on the expertise of our driver-partners alongside autonomous vehicles and remote driving services,” said Anthony Tan, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Grab. “This initial investment will help accelerate Vay’s remote driving technology development and create valuable technical and operational synergies for Grab’s long-term mobility strategy. It will also support Vay’s expansion in the U.S., where they serve a growing segment of consumers who prefer not to be car owners and are looking for more flexible, affordable, mobility options.”Thomas von der Ohe, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Vay, added: “As we plan to deploy tens of thousands of shared, electric, driverless vehicles over the coming years, we couldn’t be more excited to have one of the best operators in the world join us on this journey.”grab.com, techinasia.com