Rented cars in Germany will soon be delivered remotely by operators using game controllers

A new approach to car rental

Millions of people rent cars every year, but if you don’t live near a city center or airport, getting access to them can be a hassle, and getting them delivered to your door can often be expensive. Now, a German company believes it can simplify the entire rental process by using remote drivers to deliver rental cars to your location and return them when you’re done.

Legal changes and growth plans

Vay, whose name is a playful reference to how Germans pronounce the word “way,” is planning to launch its remote rental service in Berlin following recent changes to the country’s laws. While fully driverless taxis like those operated by Waymo in the US are not yet legal in Europe, the German parliament this summer gave permission for the operation of remotely controlled vehicles in approved areas under the guidance of properly trained people, starting in December of this year.

Testing the technology

Founder Thomas von der Oe has been testing his technology using specially adapted Kia Niro in Las Vegas, where driverless taxis are allowed. He believes Vay could transform the rental market in such a way that drivers will use rental instead of buying a second car, or perhaps even their first.

The rental cars themselves look almost exactly like regular cars, the latest generation Kia e-Niro, except for a little extra monitoring equipment on the front and rear of the roof and on the sides. The interior is also largely unchanged, meaning there is no complicated adaptation process for the renter when they get behind the wheel.

Remote control

The task of delivering a car to a renter is carried out by a driver who sits in an office behind a gaming-like setup, facing the triple-screen display that many sim racers use. Nearby are other setups that control other cars, each equipped with a large red button to the left of the steering wheel that can turn off the car and quickly stop it in case of problems. Once the driver finishes delivering one car, he “teleports” to a new car and continues moving it.

Driver requirements

Drivers must complete hundreds of test miles before they are qualified, and while gaming experience may be an advantage, it is not required. Also, the cars are limited to 25 mph (40 km/h), according to information on the Vay website, so this is unlikely to be a job for Gran Turismo fans.

But it could be a great job for existing taxi drivers who have been abused while on the job, disgruntled Uber employees, or truck drivers who want to spend less time away from their families.

People see this as the job of the future. They have breaks and lunch, and they work in teams rather than alone.

Future prospects

Vay says its Las Vegas fleet will grow to 100 vehicles by the end of 2025, and it has already launched the service in the port of Antwerp-Brugge in Belgium, preparing to enter real public roads in Germany next year.

The technology could be an intermediate step on the road to fully autonomous vehicles, offering a practical solution for cities where full driverless vehicles are not yet legally approved. Speed ​​limits and human control could make the technology more acceptable to regulators and the public, while also providing new job opportunities in the transportation industry. Vay’s success in Germany could pave the way for similar services in other European countries, spurring further development of remote vehicle control.