SINGAPORE/BERLIN – Berlin-based mobility startup Vay has secured $60 million in cash from Grab, the Singapore-based technology conglomerate, marking one of the most prominent cross-border investments in remote-driving mobility this year. The agreement includes an option for up to an additional $350 million, contingent on Vay hitting a series of operational milestones within the first 12 months.
Vay, known for its fleet of remote-operated rental vehicles, uses human “teledrivers” to deliver cars directly to customers, who then take the wheel themselves. After the rental period ends, remote operators reclaim and park the vehicles—removing what Vay describes as one of urban mobility’s most persistent pain points.
The company is already operational in Las Vegas and intends to use the fresh capital to expand into additional U.S. cities, a strategic move that aligns with a broader national push toward next-generation transportation technologies.
Grab Seeks Strategic Synergies
Grab said the investment reflects its interest in “next-phase mobility models” across Southeast Asia. Executives pointed to potential synergies involving remote-driver data and training inputs for autonomous-driving algorithms, noting that Vay’s real-world driving telemetry could help refine regional self-driving initiatives.
Industry and Cross-Border Reactions
In Germany, mobility analysts described the deal as a “milestone moment” for Europe’s remote-driving sector, underscoring the increasing global competition in teleoperation technologies. International observers in the U.S. welcomed the investment as evidence of growing commercial validation for hybrid human-autonomous mobility services, particularly in cities where full autonomy remains years away.
Vay has previously raised $131.8 million from investors including Kinnevik, Coatue, and Atomico, positioning itself as one of Europe’s most well-funded remote-mobility companies.
A Bet on the Transition Era
The partnership between Grab and Vay highlights an emerging trend: global mobility giants investing not only in full autonomy but in intermediate systems—human-assisted, scalable, and city-ready. With regulators in the U.S., Europe, and Asia still assessing how to govern autonomous fleets, remote-operated mobility is increasingly viewed as a bridge technology with immediate commercial viability.
As Vay steps deeper into the U.S. market and Grab explores new regional applications, the partnership signals a turning point in how global players may collaborate to shape the next era of urban transport. (hb)