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Remote Driving Company Vay Expands in Las Vegas: CES 2025
Vay’s new 8,500-square-foot production facility will build its e-Niro EVs and serve as the primary hub for hardware deployment nationwide
3 Min Read
A remote driver steers a Kia electric vehicle from Vay during a live demonstration of remote driving on city streets, seen from the company's control center in Las Vegas at CES 2025.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
German remote driving company Vay will increase its fleet of vehicles in Las Vegas to 100 this year.
The firm, which launched U.S. operations a year ago, announced its progress as Vegas hosts CES 2025.
It also confirmed that it has secured a production facility in the city and is set to embark on a recruitment drive to attract remote car and truck drivers.
Vay’s remote driving service is currently available across a number of central locations in Las Vegas, including on the Strip and at some of the busiest hotels and tourist attractions, between 6.30 a.m. and 10 p.m.
The proposition differs from the self-driving taxi service offered by Waymo. Once a customer orders one of Vay’s Kia e-Niro cars via app, it is “driven” to them by a human based at a remote teledrive center, who uses conventional controls, such as a steering wheel and pedals.
Credit: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
The connection is via a cellular network (Way agreed a major deal with Verizon last year). Once delivered, the customer takes over, drives to their destination and parks before the remote teledriver resumes control.
According to Vay: “[The] per-minute rental service costs half as much as current ride-sharing options, is a more economical alternative to autonomous driving and requires no costly membership fees.”
The concept appears to be gaining momentum with Las Vegas visitors. Vay said it has completed 6,000 trips in 12 months, which has prompted the increase in fleet size.
The new 8,500-square-foot production facility will be used to build out the firm’s fleet of e-Niro EVs and will serve as the primary hub for hardware deployment across the entire country, with the ultimate capability of processing 16 vehicles a week. Vay also has a downtown center for maintenance in Las Vegas, which will remain in operation.
New recruits will join what Vay calls its Remote Driving Academy and will receive a comprehensive grounding on what is required to pilot a car – or a truck – from a distance. Truck operations are in the pipeline as part of a move into business-to-business services announced last year, and are likely to get underway soon.
The announcement was hailed by Thomas Von der Ohe, CEO and co-founder, who said: “This new facility and our fleet expansion highlight Vay’s commitment to serving our growing customer base in Las Vegas, ensuring a seamless experience for everyone requesting our vehicles. This investment represents a significant milestone for Vay’s growth and will play a crucial role in scaling our offerings.”
Berlin-based Vay received a $37 million loan from the European Investment Bank last year to help support its growth.
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