German Company Aims to Revolutionize Mobility with Remote-Driven Cars in Berlin

Vay, a Berlin-based remote-driving tech company, is set to launch a service that could transform car ownership and mobility in Germany. From December 2025, residents of Berlin will be able to summon an electric car via an app, without a driver in the vehicle. Instead, a remote operator, sitting at a command center several hundred meters away, will control the vehicle. The service, which includes renting cars that are driven by remote drivers to your location, offers an innovative solution to city mobility by addressing issues like parking and the high costs of car ownership. The company’s CEO, Thomas von der Ohe, sees this as a way to reduce the need for private car ownership and make cities more sustainable. Vay’s remote-driving operations are set to launch in December after Germany passed new legislation to permit such services. Unlike fully autonomous vehicles, Vay’s service depends on human controllers who operate the cars remotely. The initiative is part of a broader trend in Europe to explore alternative forms of mobility, with Vay already testing its technology in Las Vegas. Though Germany’s legal framework is more complex than in cities like San Francisco, Vay has worked with local authorities to ensure compliance. The company’s success depends on both its remote drivers and its technology, which promises to make urban transportation more efficient and accessible.