Remote car rental startup Vay is ramping up its Las Vegas operations after launching a new vehicle production facility in Southern Nevada. The company, which introduced its innovative teledriving service in Las Vegas just over a year ago, has already served more than 10,000 customers.
Growth and Expansion in Las Vegas
“It’s exciting to see how well our service has been embraced by the local community,” said Thomas von der Ohe, Vay’s CEO and co-founder. “Our focus is on residents, rather than tourists.”
Vay recently unveiled an 8,500-square-foot production facility in Henderson, where it can equip up to 16 vehicles per week with its proprietary remote-driving technology. The company’s fleet, which started with just two cars at UNLV, has now expanded to 50 vehicles across Las Vegas, with plans to double that to 100 by the end of the year.
How Vay’s Remote Car Rental Works
Vay offers a seamless, door-to-door rental experience. Customers can request a vehicle through the company’s smartphone app, and a remote driver—known as a “teledriver”—delivers the car to them. The service operates in select areas, including central Las Vegas, downtown, UNLV, parts of the Strip, and Chinatown.
“We don’t have thousands of cars yet, so we focus on maintaining a balanced geofence to ensure availability and reliability,” von der Ohe explained.
The driverless car delivery and pickup service runs daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Customers over 21 can use Vay’s vehicles 24/7 within the company’s operating zones, while those under 21 can access non-delivery rentals from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Once the car reaches the customer, they take control and can drive anywhere—even outside the Las Vegas Valley. Rentals are limited to a maximum of 12 hours, making the service ideal for short trips, errands, or multi-stop journeys. Customers can lock the car via the app when making stops, keeping it reserved for continued use.
According to Vay, nearly 50% of its users choose the service specifically for the convenience of stopovers. “People love that the car is delivered to them, and they can make multiple stops, whether for grocery shopping, dining, or sporting events,” von der Ohe said.
Pricing and Cost Savings
Vay aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional ride-hailing services. Pricing is set at 35 cents per minute while driving and 5 cents per minute during stopovers. The company’s goal is to be 50% cheaper than Uber or Lyft.
For example:
- A 15-minute, 5-mile trip from UNLV to Chinatown costs $5.25.
- An 82-minute round trip to Hoover Dam, including a one-hour stopover, costs $32.40.
If a user finds their Vay ride wasn’t half the cost of an Uber or Lyft, they can request reimbursement through Vay’s support team.
Inside Vay’s Teledriving Technology
Vay currently employs 15 teledrivers who operate vehicles remotely from a downtown control center. These drivers use a setup resembling a racing simulator, with a steering wheel, pedals, and three curved screens that provide a real-time view of the car’s surroundings. Additional rearview cameras and a GPS screen help them navigate efficiently.
To ensure safety, all remote drivers undergo rigorous training, initially driving with an onboard safety driver before transitioning to full remote operation. Vay is actively hiring more teledrivers to support its growing fleet and is also planning to introduce remote-driven trucks in the future.
Human-Controlled, Camera-Based Driving
Unlike autonomous vehicles that rely on expensive LiDAR, radar, and multiple sensors, Vay’s cars operate solely using cameras. “A human makes all the decisions in real-time,” von der Ohe said. “Using cameras instead of LiDAR significantly reduces costs—from around $150,000 for a robotaxi to just a few thousand dollars per vehicle.”
As Vay continues expanding, its unique approach to remote vehicle rental could redefine urban mobility, offering a cheaper, more flexible alternative to traditional transportation options.
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