Remote driving startup Vay could grab up to $410M from Singapore’s Grab

Berlin-based remote driving startup Vay is poised to receive up to $410 million in investment from Singapore’s Grab, pending regulatory approval, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2026. An additional $350 million could be unlocked within the first year if Vay meets specific milestones related to U.S. market expansion, including regulatory approvals, city coverage, and consumer revenue targets. Vay’s technology enables human operators to remotely drive rental cars to customers, who then take over driving themselves, offering a hybrid alternative to traditional car ownership and ride-hailing services. This approach reduces costs compared to ride-hailing and eliminates parking concerns for users. Although Grab does not operate in the U.S., it plans to support Vay’s growth there amid increasing competition in remote driving, with companies like Waymo expanding their autonomous vehicle services. Grab views Vay’s service as complementary to robotaxis and aligned with its strategy to cater to consumers who prefer not to own cars. The partnership also aims to