Remote-Driving Car Service Launches in Belgium

Ush has partnered with Poppy Mobility, a subsidiary of D’Ieteren and a leading car-sharing and rental provider in Belgium, to introduce remote-driving technology for rental car deliveries at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

The initiative is part of a test phase aimed at streamlining car rental logistics.

The collaboration enables Poppy users to request a rental vehicle via the Poppy app, with Ush remotely driving the car to the requested location in real-time. Once delivered, the user can either drive the car themselves or opt for continued remote operation from Ush’s teledrive station.

Remote-Driving Car Service Launches in Belgium

A Poppy vehicle

The service is supported by Vay, a company specialising in automotive-grade remote-driving technology. Vay has an operational commercial service in Las Vegas and recently announced an expansion to 100 vehicles in 2025 after surpassing 6,000 trips. In Las Vegas, users can request an electric vehicle via the Vay app, with remote drivers handling delivery and return, eliminating the need for parking searches.

Ush has secured an exclusive partnership with Vay to develop and commercialise the technology in Belgium.

Thomas von der Ohe, CEO and founder of Vay said:

I moved back to Europe from Silicon Valley and joined my co-founders to take advantage of our continent’s world leading automotive engineering excellence. With this partnership with Ush and Poppy, we’re thrilled to see our vision for the future of mobility taking shape. Remotely driven vehicles are taking to European roads – for a commercial service – for the first time. With the support of regulators, we hope this will be the first of many exciting, remote drive-enabled projects across Europe.

Ush is working closely with authorities for a phased introduction of remote-driving technology. The first deployment involves two remote-driven vehicles operating in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges for Boluda, a global maritime services provider.

This builds on the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ status as a testing ground for various technological advancements, including autonomous shipping and drones.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges said:

With the introduction of remote-driving technology in Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the port confirms its role as a testing ground for cutting-edge technologies. It has already served as a launch pad for autonomous shipping and autonomous drones, both of which are now scaling rapidly – demonstrating how the port accelerates innovation. The testing of this remote-driving technology follows the same trajectory, reinforcing the port’s position as a key innovation hub where technologies are tested, validated, and fast-tracked for commercial deployment. The port aims to be a regulatory sandbox where new technologies can prove their reliability and potential.

For the pilot project, Boluda employees in remote areas of the port will be able to request a Poppy rental car, which will be remotely delivered. After use, the remote driver will take control to navigate the car to the next user.

Max Levandowski, CEO of Ush said:

Bringing remote-driving technology to Belgium requires a careful, phased approach in collaboration with regulators. We chose to start at a manageable scale with two vehicles serving key locations in the port.

Ush obtained several key approvals in 2024 to bring remote-driving technology to Belgium, including:

Technical evaluation by the Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works, with analysis by IMEC
Positive recommendation from VIAS institute for Road Safety
Approvals from the Federal Minister of Mobility, FOD/SPF Mobility, and the Flemish Region
Special registration and insurance for test vehicles

The phased rollout includes:

Phase 1 (starting today): Initial deployment on a designated route on the right bank of the port, with a safety driver in the vehicle.
Phase 2 (in the coming months): Expansion to a second route on the left bank.
Phase 3 (by the end of 2025): Full-scale deployment across the port, without route restrictions or onboard safety operators.

Further expansion is planned, with Poppy aiming for a full commercial rollout in Antwerp by 2026. Ush will continue working with authorities to establish a legal framework for remote-driving technology in Belgium.