A remote car delivery service, Vay, is expanding its operations in Las Vegas following the establishment of a new production facility. Since commencing its services over a year ago, the company has served more than 10,000 customers primarily focusing on local residents rather than tourists. This growth has been facilitated by their recent opening of an 8,500-square-foot facility in Henderson, which enables them to outfit up to 16 vehicles weekly with specialized hardware and software for teledriving. The company aims to expand its fleet from 50 cars currently operating in the Las Vegas Valley to 100 vehicles this year.

At the heart of Vay's expansion lies the innovative concept of "teledriving." Customers can order a vehicle through Vay's smartphone app, which delivers it directly to their location within designated areas. These include central Las Vegas, downtown, UNLV, parts of the Strip, and Chinatown. Thomas von der Ohe, CEO and co-founder of Vay, emphasizes balancing geofencing to ensure customer satisfaction while managing the limited number of vehicles available. Delivery and pickup services are available from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, with additional options for those aged 21 and older who wish to use the service outside these hours.

The teledriving process involves a "teledriver" remotely navigating the vehicle to the customer. Once delivered, users can drive anywhere, including outside the Las Vegas Valley, for up to 12 hours. One unique feature is the stopover option, allowing users to lock the car during errands or events. This flexibility has attracted 50% of Vay’s clientele. Furthermore, regular users have taken over 100 trips since operations began in Southern Nevada.

Upon concluding their trip, customers must return the vehicle to a designated zone where a teledriver will take over and return it to headquarters. Pricing stands at 35 cents per minute, reducing to 5 cents during stopovers. Vay positions itself as a cost-effective alternative to ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft, aiming to offer rides at half the price. For example, a 15-minute journey from UNLV to Chinatown costs $5.25, while an 82-minute round trip to Hoover Dam, including a one-hour stopover, is estimated at $32.40. If customers find discrepancies in pricing compared to competitors, they can request reimbursement for the difference.

Vay employs 15 teledrivers based at their downtown hub, operating vehicles remotely using a setup akin to a video game station. Each station includes a driver’s seat equipped with a steering wheel and pedals, alongside three large screens displaying real-time road views. Additional monitors provide GPS navigation assistance. Safety measures involve training programs where drivers practice with safety personnel onboard before going solo. Future plans include incorporating trucks into their rental lineup as the fleet expands.

In contrast to autonomous vehicles relying heavily on expensive technologies such as LiDAR, Vay utilizes only cameras placed around the exterior of the vehicles. This camera-based system allows human teledrivers full control, significantly cutting down on costs. According to von der Ohe, this approach reduces expenses dramatically, enabling affordable teledriving solutions without compromising safety.

Vay continues to redefine transportation convenience in Las Vegas, blending innovation with affordability. Their commitment to enhancing local mobility options highlights the potential impact of technology-driven solutions in reshaping urban travel experiences. As they move forward, the integration of new vehicle types and ongoing recruitment efforts underscore their dedication to expanding accessibility and efficiency within the region.