Hello! 👋
The chilly weather won’t stop us from moving at full speed: from startup events to CES and breaking our records every week, it’s clear we won’t be hitting the brakes in 2026.
A Reflection from Thomas von der Ohe, Vay CEO and Co-Founder
This year’s CES in Las Vegas reaffirmed what we’ve been driving towards with our work: the driverless ecosystem is being embraced and is gathering pace.
Companies at every layer of autonomy showed tangible progress toward real-world deployment, including many lidar providers. Aeva showcased windshield-integrated 4D LiDAR and next-generation sensors designed for Level-3 automated driving. Hesai announced plans to double annual LiDAR production capacity in 2026. And obviously, Waymo announced the rebrand of its upcoming minivan-like vehicle, while Uber unveiled its new intent vehicle for robotaxi service, in collaboration with Nuro and Lucid. Beyond these, a broader ecosystem of radar, compute, and software partners reinforced that driverless systems are becoming an industry effort.
What stood out to me most was the growing practicality of these technologies. From advanced safety platforms to live demonstrations of real-time detection and scene understanding, the focus has clearly shifted toward execution at scale. Just like we are, here at Vay.
Our remote driving technology goes hand in hand with the progress seen at CES. By combining human capabilities with AI-based, advanced vehicle systems – and gradually integrating autonomous features – we have been translating the innovation showcased at CES into safe, real-world operations on public streets for two years. It’s a pragmatic path forward, and we are excited for 2026 to be a year of growth in high gear.
New Year, New Website
Have you seen our new look? Our new website is live, and it’s built to reflect the future we’re creating at Vay. The new site relays our mission, product, and progress with a new, sleek design. Explore it now!
Recent Events
StartUp Vegas LevelUp
During CES, Vay CEO and Co-Founder, Thomas von der Ohe, sat alongside Piotr Tomasik, TensorWave President & COO and Co-Founder of StartUp Vegas, to discuss his journey building our company and launching our driverless car rental in Las Vegas.
Local startups also presented their ideas to gain business-shaping feedback in an evening of learning, connection, support, and mentorship from fellow entrepreneurs.
Take a look at his advice to future founders, as well as to those who wish to work at a startup, in this video.
Urban Autonomy Summit
Claire Eagan, Global Head of Legal, joined the panel “Charged Up Cities: Operating Affordable & Sustainable Urban Fleets” at the Urban Autonomy Summit in San Francisco, CA, on January 28.
She discussed the benefits of Vay’s service, the broader ecosystem of urban mobility, and how companies are navigating and overcoming legal complexities in this emerging space.
Visit our LinkedIn page (and follow us, if you haven’t yet!) for key insights from her session.
Media Highlights
Recent Blogs
From the garage to the road, our Vehicle Technicians help keep Vay in motion. 🛠️
Three of our expert Vehicle Technicians, Alex, Ian, and Nikko, talk about what it takes to build out our fleet and keep it ready for customers. Want to know more? Read the full blog here.
It’s only the beginning, but this year is shaping up to be exciting. We’re looking forward to continuing the journey with all of you.
Cheers 👋
Silvia Avanzini, Head of Communications at Vay
