German startup Vay has launched a remote-driving service in Las Vegas and Europe could be next.
The rollout brings to market a concept known as teledriving.
When users fire up the Vay app and request a ride, an electric vehicle comes to collect them.
So far, so Uber with one big exception: theres nobody inside the car.
Instead, its piloted to the pick-up spot by a remote driver.
The customer then takes the wheel for the journey to their destination.
Once they depart, a teledriver takes control again.
Its a model that Vay has pioneered.
The tech, meanwhile, is billed as a midway pointbetween conventional cars andautonomous vehicles.
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Theres no minimum length or distance and rentals are available for up to 12 hours.
Investors have made big bets that the savings lead to profits.
In December, Vay raised $95mn (87mn) in a Series B round.
Vay also has big plans for Europe starting with its home country.
The company is currently in discussions with German authorities about a domestic rollout.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he e(show all)Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse).
