UK car rental service launches remote-controlled vehicle delivery

A UK car rental service called Fetch has introduced a unique approach to vehicle delivery by remotely piloting cars to customers.

Developed by British company Imperium Drive, Fetch allows customers to experience a "driverless vehicle," as a human operator drives the vehicle from the company's headquarters. Currently, a "safe driver" is present during delivery, but Fetch plans to move to fully remote operation 18 months after successful implementation.

The Fetch concept differs from autonomous driving technology in that it relies on human control rather than full automation.

Imperium Drive CEO Koosha Kaveh clarified that the vehicles are "driverless but not autonomous," with operators utilizing a control center to maneuver the cars, similar to piloting a drone. The service has already undergone 18 months of testing in Milton Keynes, covering over 1,000 miles without any collisions.