Estonian deep-tech company Elmo and fast-scaling German ride-hailing platform Bliq have launched the world’s first road-legal remotely operated taxi service on public roads. The service, live in Tallinn, is based on Elmo’s road-approved teledriving technology and licensed remote operators, offering residents and visitors a safe, innovative, and sustainable new mode of transportation.

A game-changing alternative to autonomous taxis
Remotely driven taxis are up to 5x more cost-efficient and significantly more mature from a technology readiness standpoint compared to fully autonomous taxis. Unlike robotaxis that rely on expensive sensor stacks and complex regulatory approval processes, Elmo’s teledriving system can be deployed quickly and flexibly in real-world urban environments. Additionally, teledriving keeps human drivers employed, while enabling them to work remotely, making operations safer and more cost-efficient for fleet operators.
“As a rapidly growing ride-hailing platform, we’ve chosen to execute our global strategy with remote driving technology – a solution that’s now stepping into the space previously dominated by autonomous systems,” said Julian Glaab, CEO and co-founder of Bliq.
“When Elmo picked us up at the airport using a remotely operated car with no one inside, we immediately knew we had found both a trusted tech partner and an inspiring team we want to build with for the long term” added Glaab.
Bliq is a German ride-hailing platform that aggregates multiple mobility services like Bolt, Uber, and its own fleet into one seamless app. For users, it means faster access, more options, and better convenience, all in one place.
“Self-driving cars are future. That future is already here in Tallinn, and true to Estonian spirit, it’s arriving through smart remote-driving technology,” commented Tallinn’s Deputy Mayor Pärtel-Peeter Pere. “In cities, most people don’t need to own a car that sits idle 90% of the time. What matters more than ownership is having access to a car when and where you need it—and we aim to lead the way in making that a reality,” Pere added.
“The launch of our remote taxi service marks a critical milestone for Elmo,” said Enn Laansoo, Jr., co-founder and CEO of Elmo. “This proves that we’ve stayed focused on our deep-tech vision, developed consistently, and never gave up – even when the road got tough. Today, our technology is not just ready; it’s running already in three sectors globally. And this is only the beginning.”

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The first 100 remote taxi rides are exclusively offered to employees of companies located at Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, including Microsoft, Cybernetica, Starship Technologies, and others. Using the bliq.ai mobile app, riders can request a remotely driven taxi to any point in the city.
New market expansion underway
Following a two-month period, Elmo and Bliq will evaluate performance data to confirm their expansion into the new markets. Preparations are already underway, including vehicle selection and regulatory approvals to enable Elmo’s road legal teledriving technology integration into compatible platforms.
Elmo’s proven track record in teledriving technology
Elmo began commercial operations with road-legal teledrivable rental cars in 2022, delivering electric vehicles directly to customers’ doorsteps in Estonia and Finland. Since then, the company has expanded across three sectors and reached a new milestone with the launch of its remotely controlled taxi service — a testament to Elmo’s technological maturity, visionary leadership, and persistent innovation.
About Bliq
Bliq is a German mobility platform that unifies multiple ride-hailing services and its own fleet into one app, offering drivers and passengers faster access to smarter urban transport. With global expansion plans, Bliq is setting a new standard in digital ride-hailing convenience. Learn more at https://bliq.ai
About Elmo
Elmo is the company behind the world’s first road-legal teledriving technology, operational in public car-sharing services since 2022 in Estonia and Finland. Elmo’s technology has been validated by automotive experts and presented on public roads in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, the UAE, Canada, and the U.S., including a record-breaking 3,400 km cross-border teledriving journey.
Elmo enables car-sharing companies to deliver vehicles to customers’ doorsteps, improves CAPEX and OPEX efficiency in taxi fleets, and removes drivers from harm’s way in logistics and defense sectors.
Media Inquiries
Mathias Rhode
Communication manager, Bliq
mathias.rhode@bliq.app
Enn Laansoo, Jr.
CEO & Co-founder, Elmo
enn@elmoremote.com