Singapore's Grab Invests US $60 Million in German Remote-Driving Firm Vay to Accelerate Mobility Tech

Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platform, Grab Holdings, announced a strategic investment of US $60 million in German remote-driving specialist Vay Technology GmbH as it pursues its vision of hybrid mobility that blends driver-partners with autonomous and remotely-driven vehicles.

The deal, subject to regulatory approval and expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, grants Grab a minority equity stake in Vay. Should Vay meet defined milestones — including expanded U.S. city coverage, consumer revenue targets, and safety/technology standards — Grab may commit up to an additional US $350 million within the first year.

Vay’s unique model enables users to request an electric vehicle via its app, have it delivered by a remote driver, then take over the vehicle themselves before the remote driver re-assumes control after the ride ends. The company, founded in Berlin, launched commercial service in Las Vegas in early 2024.

Grab CEO Anthony Tan emphasised that “the future of mobility in Southeast Asia will be a hybrid model that relies on the expertise of our driver-partners alongside autonomous vehicles and remote driving services.” The investment aligns with Grab’s broader push into autonomous mobility technologies and next-generation transportation services.

Analysis & Impact:
Grab’s move into remote driving marks a significant strategic shift — the company is not just running ride-hailing and delivery, but actively investing in the infrastructure of how vehicles will be used and controlled tomorrow. By partnering with Vay, Grab potentially gains access to key data, technology and operational experience in remote vehicle operation before full autonomy.

For Vay, the investment provides capital and access to one of the fastest-growing mobility markets in Southeast Asia. It also links Vay’s technology to a platform with regional scale and experience in fleet-management, navigation and user experience across multiple countries.

From an industry-wide perspective, the deal illustrates how mobility firms are hedging for the transition from driver-centric models to more automated or remotely-managed systems. But the path ahead contains challenges: regulatory approvals for remote-driving services remain complex; scaling cross-continent operations is difficult; and customer acceptance of hybrid remote-and-self-drive car rentals may evolve slowly.