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Uklon and Elmo bring driverless mobility to Ukraine

Posted on by Elmo

Uklon, one of Ukraine’s leading ride-hailing and mobility platforms, has partnered with European remote driving pioneer Elmo to begin real-world pilot operations using next-generation remote driving technology for future driverless mobility services in Ukraine.

The initiative combines Uklon’s mobility ecosystem with Elmo’s road-legal remote driving technology, positioning Ukraine among the first real-world operational environments in the region exploring human-supervised driverless transportation services. The first phase of the project is taking place in partnership with Boryspil International Airport, where operational infrastructure and varying network conditions provide a real-world environment for validating remote driving operations.

“Global transportation is moving rapidly toward remote and autonomous mobility systems. Even during challenging times, Ukraine has the opportunity to remain among global technological leaders,” said Serhii Hryshkov, CEO of Uklon. “Together with technology partners and public institutions, we are building the foundation for future mobility services.”

The partnership also includes cooperation with Niko Autoalliance, an official Nissan dealership and authorized brand representative in Ukraine. The collaboration strengthens the connection between future mobility technologies and the official automotive ecosystem while reinforcing a shared commitment to quality, reliability, and professional standards.

Unlike fully autonomous vehicle systems, Elmo’s technology keeps a human remote driver in control of the vehicle in real time using cameras, onboard computing, and public communication networks including 4G/5G and satellite connectivity.

This approach enables practical deployment today while also serving as a bridge toward future autonomous mobility systems, as the technology can be integrated into existing vehicle platforms without requiring fully autonomous infrastructure.

Elmo is internationally recognized as the first company in the world to commercialize road-legal remote driving services on public roads. Since 2022, Elmo technology has operated on public roads while demonstrating long-distance, cross-border, and high-speed remote driving over live telecommunications networks in multiple international markets.

“Remote driving is becoming a practical path toward future transportation systems,” said Tuuli Tolmats-Aia, Co-Founder of Elmo. “The question is no longer whether vehicles can be driven remotely — it is how quickly mobility ecosystems and regulations adapt to unlock their full potential.”

The technology also creates new opportunities for inclusive mobility. Among the participants involved in the pilot operations are drivers and a war veteran using a wheelchair. Remote driving technology allows people with lower-limb amputations and mobility limitations to remotely operate vehicles using adapted controls.

The initiative has also received attention from Ukrainian public institutions as part of the country’s broader digital transformation and future mobility ambitions. During the first presentation of the remote driving technology at Boryspil International Airport on May 27, the event was attended by representatives of state and local government, including Oleksandr Borniakov, Acting Minister of Digital Transformation, Oleksandr Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization, and Kostyantyn Usov, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for the exercise of self-government powers and representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Community Development and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“The testing and adaptation of autonomous vehicles is the next practical step in implementing the Digital Development Strategy of Innovations of Ukraine until 2030 WINWIN. The development of such solutions is critically important for the country’s technological sovereignty and economic development. We are glad to cooperate with private business and welcome companies that are ready to test and scale innovative technologies together with us,” — Oleksandr Borniakov, Acting Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

In addition to piloting operations, the project includes collaboration with public institutions, business communities, and universities to support future development of regulatory frameworks and next-generation mobility services in Ukraine.

As global mobility leaders increasingly invest in remote driving technologies and alternatives to full autonomy, partnerships like Uklon and Elmo demonstrate that human-supervised driverless transportation is no longer experimental, but an emerging operational reality. 

About Uklon

Uklon is one of Ukraine’s leading technology-driven mobility platforms, providing ride-hailing and transportation services while investing in future mobility and digital innovation.

Founded in Kyiv in 2010, Uklon started as a ride-hailing platform and has evolved into a multi-service digital ecosystem integrating ride-hailing, Uklon Delivery, Uklon Ads, and the Uklon Travel bus ticket booking service. As of April 2026, the Uklon service is available in 27 cities across Ukraine and at the Bukovel tourist complex. The company also operates in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

In April 2025, Uklon was acquired by JSC Kyivstar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyivstar Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW), whose shares traded on the U.S. stock exchange Nasdaq and which is a part of the VEON Group.

About Elmo

Elmo is a European mobility technology company and the first company in the world to commercialize in 2022 road-legal remote driving on public roads. The company develops remote driving solutions for mobility, logistics, and other applications using 4G/5G, satellite, and radiolink connectivity. Elmo technology has been deployed across Europe and demonstrated internationally in North America and the Middle East.

Uklon launches remote driving pilot with Elmo at Boryspil Airport

Posted on by Elmo

Uklon has launched the first development and pilot testing of remote driving technology in Ukraine, which serves as a bridge for deploying Autonomous Vehicles (AV) technology, including robotaxi. The project is being implemented in partnership with Boryspil International Airport, where a testing platform has been created.

The goal of the initiative is to test the technology, learn the key aspects of remote-controlled vehicles’ operation under various network conditions, and initiate the development of the necessary regulatory framework for the launch of autonomous vehicles (AV) and robotaxi in Ukraine.

“The global world is rapidly moving towards remote and autonomous mobility and transport systems. It is very important for us that, despite all the challenges of the war, Ukraine does not lose momentum and remains among the technological leaders. Together with the state, we are ready to jointly form the AV development roadmap and create prerequisites for the implementation of innovations that will change the future of Ukrainian mobility,” – notes Serhii Hryshkov, CEO of Uklon.

Remote driving technology is a mandatory element serving as a “bridge” to full autonomy, which will allow for increased transportation safety, optimized logistics, and the development of inclusive mobility services in the future. The first phase of the pilot testing is focused on testing remotely controlled vehicles in real-world conditions. Using specialized software,  cameras, lidar, and wireless communication networks, the technology allows a driver to remotely operate a vehicle via a special station in real-time. The technology provider for this project is Elmo, an Estonian company whose technology is certified since 2022 in Europe.

Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar: “Ensuring a stable connection with minimal delay is the foundation for the operation of remote transport. As part of the VEON DO1440 group strategy, we are developing a digital ecosystem where communication technologies become the basis for new services. This project confirms that the synergy of the telecom and IT sector within the Kyivstar group of companies, which includes Uklon, creates unique solutions and opens new opportunities for the country“.

The Uklon service drivers are involved in technology testing as well as a war veteran who uses a wheelchair. Remote driving technology also opens up additional opportunities for people with lower limb amputations, as it allows for remote vehicle operation using manual controls.

“Even with the airspace closed, Boryspil Airport continues to support projects related to the future of mobility, digital infrastructure, and new transport technologies. We are convinced that after flights resume, the competitiveness of modern airports will be determined not only by infrastructure but also by the ability to integrate innovative solutions and technological partnerships,” – comments Oleksii Dubrevskyi, General Director of Boryspil Airport.

The first presentation of the remote driving technology took place today, on May 27, for state and local government representatives, as well as the media. Specifically, the event was attended by Oleksandr Bornyakov, Acting Minister of Digital Transformation, Oleksandr Tsybort, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization, Kostyantyn Usov, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for the Exercise of Local Government Powers, and representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Community Development and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“The testing and adaptation of autonomous vehicles is the next practical step in implementing the Digital Development Strategy of Innovations of Ukraine until 2030 WINWIN. The development of such solutions is critically important for the country’s technological sovereignty and economic development. We are glad to cooperate with private business and welcome companies that are ready to test and scale innovative technologies together with us,” — Oleksandr Borniakov, Acting Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

The project also includes planned presentations for business communities with the Diia.City United, as well as an open workshop and test drives for students of technological higher education institutions.

Press release: https://uklon.com.ua/en/news/uklon-launches-remote-driving-technology-testing-at-boryspil-airport/

Elmo and Upshift partner to launch remote control car subscription service in California

Posted on by Elmo

Estonian-based remote driving technology pioneer, Elmo has signed a partnership agreement with California-based company Upshift to pioneer remote control car subscription services in California. The collaboration marks a significant step toward scaling remote driving technology in the U.S. mobility market, enabling members to subscribe to a car that is delivered and valet parked on demand without a driver inside the vehicle.

From Estonia to California: remote driving goes global

Elmo, the world’s first company to commercialize road-legal remotely driven cars on public streets since 2022, will provide its proprietary teledriving technology to Upshift. Through this integration, Upshift members will be able to order vehicles that are remotely driven to their doorstep in cities like San Francisco, while operators can reposition cars remotely without leaving the office — reducing friction in shared vehicle fleets and increasing fleet efficiency.

“Upshift is reinventing car ownership for the autonomous era. Members subscribe to a car that’s there when you need it, and gone when you don’t. Our partnership with Elmo allows us to build this future today, before personal autonomous vehicles are available” said Ezra Goldman, CEO and co-founder of Upshift.

“This partnership brings remote driving into one of the most dynamic mobility markets in the world,” said Tuuli Tolmats-Aia, COO and co-founder of Elmo. “Redistribution of shared fleets becomes significantly more efficient and faster when vehicles can move without a driver on board. This is not a future vision — it’s already operational. We’re also excited to return to the U.S. market following our first trials in Los Angeles in 2022.”

Upshift car delivered to your doorstep with Elmo’s remote driving technology

A new standard for efficient shared fleets

By combining Upshift’s customer-centric model with Elmo’s road legal human-in-control remote driving technology, the partnership enables:

  • Doorstep, on-demand vehicle delivery and repositioning without drivers
  • Reduced idle time and higher fleet utilization
  • Lower operational costs and environmental impact
  • Real-time remote control using secure multi-network connectivity

Unlike fully autonomous systems, Elmo’s technology keeps a trained and licensed remote driver in control, ensuring safety and adaptability in real-world conditions — while enabling lower CAPEX, faster scaling, and simpler regulatory integration.

Elmo’s COO, Tuuli Tolmats-Aia, teaching remote driving

A strong alternative to autonomy — bridging the gap to reality

While autonomous driving continues to evolve, the Elmo–Upshift collaboration demonstrates a practical and scalable solution available today, especially in  technology-enabled car access .

Remote driving:

  • Is already commercially deployed on public roads in Europe and America
  • Has lower technological and regulatory risk compared to full autonomy
  • Enables faster time-to-market and operational scaling

“Mobility services need solutions that work today, and as we often say within our team, our remote driving technology already delivers Level 5 autonomy with human intelligence,” added Tolmats-Aia. “Remote driving is a highly practical, long-term technology across many use cases and is rapidly becoming one of the most relevant innovations in the transport sector.”

About Upshift

Upshift is the end-to-end operating system for autonomous-ready car subscriptions. Upshift provides a full-stack platform—including a keyless member app, subscription billing engine, and proprietary logistics and dispatch backend—that enables dealers, carshare, and rental operators to turn their vehicles into a seamless, “there-when-you-need-it” monthly car subscription service. By orchestrating everything from cleaning and damage reporting to remote-driving integration and future autonomous vehicle systems, Upshift owns the data and customer experience that will define the future of car ownership. Upshift currently operates in San Francisco, California, and enables fleet partners to offer remote control car subscriptions in cities across the United States.

About Elmo

Elmo is a European mobility deep-tech company and the world’s first to commercialize road-legal remote driving in public operations. Since 2022, Elmo has operated remotely controlled vehicles on public streets across Europe, demonstrated cross-border teleoperation over distances exceeding 4,300 km, and set a remote driving speed record of 157 km/h with a passenger car.

Its technology enables safe and scalable remote operation via 4G/5G, satellite, and multi-network architectures, with applications across mobility, logistics, and defense.

More information:

Upshift: info@upshiftcars.com

Elmo: info@elmoremote.com

Elmo sets 157 km/h remote driving record at F1 Circuit Barcelona with street-legal Nissan Leaf over live commercial mobile network 

Posted on by Elmo

Barcelona / Tallinn – March 2026 – As a part of the CircuitX showcase held alongside MWC26 Barcelona (2–5 March), European mobility technology company Elmo set a new global remote driving speed record , reaching 157 km/h with a street-legal Nissan Leaf at the iconic F1 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 

The previous record of 115 km/h has now been significantly surpassed — twice — confirming that high-speed, road-legal remote driving is  already in active public operation. 

First run: 150 km/h – remote driver trackside 

The first record-breaking run reached 150 km/h and was performed by licensed remote driver Risto Parri, who controlled the vehicle from a Generation 1 remote driving station located trackside at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 

“It’s actually pretty crazy to become a new world record holder — even if only for a moment — and to do it on the legendary F1 circuit in Barcelona. Driving 150 km/h with no one sitting in the car proudly demonstrates the high level and maturity of our technology,” said Risto Parri, licensed remote driver at Elmo.

Second run: 157 km/h – 3,300 km cross-border remote control 

The record was broken again shortly after, when Enn Laansoo, Jr., licensed remote driver and CEO of Elmo, controlled the same street-legal Nissan Leaf with Generation 3 remote driving station from Elmo’s headquarters in Tallinn, 3,300 km away, reaching 157 km/h — effectively the maximum speed officially permitted for the vehicle. 

This high-speed cross-border remote driving test demonstrates that modern commercial mobile networks (5G) are  already capable of supporting globally scalable teleoperation, including high-speed applications. 

“Driving a vehicle at 157 km/h from 3,300 kilometers away proves that distance is no longer the limiting factor for high-speed remote driving. This is further evidence that remote driving is a practical and scalable alternative to full autonomy in many use cases,” said Enn Laansoo, Jr., adding, “I am extremely proud of the team effort and the result of six years of dedicated development of our remote driving technology.” 

Elmo has been operating remotely controlled vehicles in public service since 2022, becoming the first company globally to commercialize road-legal remote driving at scale. The Barcelona milestone builds on years of real-world operational experience. 

5G, network quality & global partners 

The demonstration was conducted in collaboration with Telefónica, providing local connectivity; Nokia, monitoring network performance and quality parameters in real time; and GSMA, organizer of the broader MWC26 ecosystem. 

“Huge congratulations to the Elmo team on their incredible achievement. Breaking a land‑speed record at the CircuitX demo showcase provides a glimpse into the future of connected mobility. What we saw at the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya proves how advanced connectivity, real‑time data and engineering excellence can come together to push the limits of performance and safety. Elmo’s record‑setting run captures the spirit of innovation that CircuitX was built to showcase, and we’re proud to celebrate this moment with them.” — Richard Cockle, Head of GSMA Foundry.

GSMA Fusion and Elmo have also been collaborating closely with the mobile industry through the GSMA Open Gateway initiative to validate network capabilities for remote driving. As part of this work, the companies have been exploring how Open Gateway network APIs – including Quality on Demand, location, and edge compute – can support the consistent, low-latency connectivity required for teleoperation. By enabling common, standardized network interfaces across operators, Open Gateway helps ensure that remote driving solutions can scale globally without bespoke integrations, aligning with broader automotive industry calls for interoperable, future-ready connectivity frameworks.  

This builds upon Elmo’s previous long-distance remote driving milestones, including the 4,300 km cross-border record from Doha to Tallinn during Doha MWC25 and the earlier 3,400 km record from year ago, reinforcing Elmo’s position as a global leader in road-legal remote driving technology. 

A practical alternative to full autonomy 

Unlike fully autonomous vehicles requiring complex AI stacks, high hardware costs and additional remote drivers support, Elmo’s remote driving modular platform enables low latency real-time human-in-control operation, integration into existing vehicles, immediate regulatory compliance, and rapid deployment across urban, logistics, and defense use cases. 

The F1 circuit test confirms that teledriving technology can handle not only urban driving but also high-speed, performance-critical environments, over very long distance. 

About Elmo

Elmo is a European mobility deep-tech company and the world’s first to commercialize road-legal remote driving in public operations. Since 2022, Elmo has operated remotely controlled vehicles on public streets across Europe and demonstrated cross-border teleoperation at distances exceeding 4,300 km. 

Its technology enables safe, scalable remote operation via 4G/5G, satellite, and multi-network architectures — with applications in smart mobility, logistics, and defense.  

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. 

More information: 
 
Elmo 
info@elmoremote.com

Elmo sets new teledriving record at MWC25 Doha: 4,300 km cross border remote driving from Doha to snowy streets of Tallinn

Posted on by Elmo

Doha / Tallinn – November 26, 2025 — Estonian deep-tech company Elmo, the world’s first to commercialize road-legal teledriving, has once again pushed the boundaries of remote driving by setting a new cross-border teledriving distance record of 4,300 km. During MWC25 Doha, an Elmo remote operator successfully drove a vehicle through snowy public streets in Tallinn, Estonia — live, in real-time, low latency and with no one behind the wheel.

This achievement was made possible in collaboration with GSMA Fusion, Ericsson, Nokia and Ooredoo Qatar, the region’s leading telecommunications provider, and witnessed by dignitaries and government representatives. The remote-controlled vehicle, a street-legal electric Nissan Leaf, demonstrating secure, low-latency remote control across continents. Guests, at MWC were also invited to teledrive a second vehicle — a Toyota Hilux 4×4 located in the Qatari desert — showcasing the same breakthrough capabilities.

In total, MWC visitors experienced Elmo’s remote driving technology in two live setups:

  • A Toyota Hilux in the Qatari desert, powered by Ooredoo’s 5G SA network via Nokia’s 5G router
  • A Nissan Leaf navigating real traffic on public roads in Tallinn, remotely driven from the event floor in Doha

“Our technology proves that safely operating vehicles across thousands of kilometers in real-world conditions is not only possible — it’s scalable and ready for global deployment,” said Enn Laansoo, Jr., CEO of Elmo. “We’re proud to showcase one of the most exciting innovations in the transportation sector, developed in Europe, together with global partners like GSMA, Ooredoo Qatar, and Nokia.”

Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA, added: “This experience showcased GSMA Fusion’s role in bringing together innovators, operators and technology providers to demonstrate what next-generation mobility can deliver. We’re really grateful and pleased to have Elmo join us on the GSMA Pavillion at MWC Doha – and even more so for their ongoing partnership, alongside Ooredoo Qatar and Nokia.”

With this latest milestone, Elmo solidifies its position as a global pioneer in remote driving. Its road-legal teledriving platform is already in active use across the EU and under evaluation for applications in logistics, defense, and smart mobility.

GSMA Fusion and Elmo have also been working together with the mobile industry to test quality of demand APIs to support remote driving, as part of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. Open Gateway provides common APIs across mobile networks, allowing automakers to access capabilities such as quality on demand, location, and edge compute in a standardised way. Many global car manufacturers have actively called for such frameworks to support global scalability and avoid vendor lock-in.

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

About Elmo

Elmo is a European mobility tech innovator and the first company in the world to deploy road-legal teledriving in public car-sharing and remotely controlled taxi services.

Since 2022, Elmo has operated actively on public streets in Estonia and Finland, and has conducted public road demonstrations across the EU, North America, and the Middle East. The company enables safe remote operation of vehicles via 4G/5G, satellite, and radiolink connections — with proven applications in urban mobility, logistics, and defense.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

Media Contacts

GSMA Press Office 
pressoffice@gsma.com

Due to high demand for Bliq’s teledrivable taxi — here’s the video of the service in action!

Posted on by Elmo

We’ve invited Estonia’s National TV show Ringvaade for a special live experience with Elmo’s remotely controlled technology!

Want to try it yourself, Just download Bliq’s app and see if you’re lucky enough to hop into the backseat of a silent, driverless taxi ride

🎯 No driver. No noise. Just innovation in motion.

See the full live experience by Ringvaade here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeFZy_hG3lM

World’s first public remote-driven taxi service launches in Tallinn 

Posted on by Elmo

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. 

Launch of remotely controlled taxi service in Tallinn

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.” 

Powered by the Tehnopol Innovation Community 

The first 100 remote taxi rides are exclusively offered to employees of companies located in the Tehnopol campus, 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 

Elmo gains approval for higher-speed driverless teledriving with AI-braking technology

Posted on by Elmo

Elmo, the Estonian company behind the world’s first road-legal teledriving technology, has achieved a major milestone in remote technology innovation. The Estonian Traffic Department has officially validated Elmo’s AI-powered autonomous braking system, enabling its teledrive technology to operate without a safety driver at higher speeds and without area restrictions. This advancement in driverless mobility further solidifies Elmo’s leadership in the teledriving sector, offering safe, scalable, and robust communication protocols for technology solutions in urban mobility, road safety, and military applications.

Enn Laansoo, Jr., CEO and co-founder of Elmo, commented, “Our team is very happy with technological and regulatory progress we have made in the past year, which allows us now to focus on delivering our solutions to our clients. Our pipeline of clients includes multiple car-sharing operators, road safety, and military players in the EU, including Germany, with further potential expansion into the Middle East and the U.S. Parallel to sales, we’re also advancing AI and machine learning upgrades to ensure an even safer teledriving experience, focusing on both functional safety and operational safety standards.”

“This milestone underscores Elmo’s technological leadership in remote driving technology and strength of its technical resources, capable of efficiently developing road ready driverless AI powered solutions.” stated Ragnar Meitern, Managing Partner of Highgoal Capital, an early investor in Elmo and other fast growing tech companies in the mobility sector, including Bolt. “Their goal-oriented progress and operational experience position Elmo uniquely for large-scale expansion, making them an even more attractive deep-tech company in the transport sector.”

Since launching the first road-legal teledrive service in public car sharing in Estonia and Finland, Elmo has deployed its technology on public roads in Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Helsinki, Zurich, Krakow, Los Angeles etc and soon on Ontario highways. This extensive deployment makes Elmo the most widely tested and applied teledriving solution on the market, showcasing its commitment to regulatory compliance and safety features. Elmo’s remotely controlled 4×4 vehicles are also in active use on the frontlines in Ukraine, supporting crucial operations in challenging conditions.

Elmo has further demonstrated cross-border teledriving with a record 2,500 km journey between teledriver in Croatia and e-car in Finland using 4G and 5G, in partnership with Nokia and Deutsche Telekom‘s Croatian operator Hravtski Telekom. This achievement highlights the potential of human-machine collaboration in long-distance remote vehicle control and operation.

Jürgo Vahtra, Head of the Estonian Traffic Department, praised Elmo’s systematic approach to safety, stating, “Elmo has balanced technology development with practical experience, making their progress safe and reliable. Their AI-driven SOS braking system, performed flawlessly in our tests, which was instrumental in granting approval for driverless high-speed operations”.

Elmo’s technology provides a practical alternative to fully autonomous vehicles, offering the efficiency of teledriving with lower hardware and deployment costs. Richard Woller, Co-Founder & CEO of technology consulting firm schwarzenberg.tech, commented, “Elmo’s combination of regulatory achievement and real-world deployment across sectors based on a smart technology sets the stage for a next era of adaptable mobility services. We believe that tele-operated driving is key in automated mobility and are impressed by the strong and solution-driven team at Elmo.”

With its ongoing fundraising round, Elmo is actively seeking to expand its capabilities and build on its global footprint. The company is planning to enhance its European operations and is considering a launch to enter to Northern American market, potentially introducing technology licensing to car rental, road safety and military companies. This latest approval not only sets the stage for Elmo’s next phase of growth but also presents a compelling opportunity for investors, clients, and cities interested in cutting-edge teledriving technology for a variety of use cases, including driverless taxis and affordable transportation options.

For more information, please visit www.elmoremote.com.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Enn Laansoo Jr. 

CEO and Founder 

Elmo

Email: enn@elmoremote.com

Hrvatski Telekom and Nokia announce API pilot projects with Elmo to expand 5G application development in Croatia

Posted on by Elmo

  • Pilot projects to use Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal to enable developers to leverage Hrvatski Telekom’s 5G network capabilities and create high-value applications.
  • The agreement highlights the increased collaboration and progress among Nokia’s open and growing network of API ecosystem partners, such as Infobip, the global cloud communications platform, and Elmo, a leader in teledriving technology, to utilize network capabilities beyond connectivity.
  • Nokia has 27 partners in Europe, North and South America, and Asia that utilize its platform.

Nokia and Hrvatski Telekom (HT), the largest operator in Croatia and part of Deutsche Telekom Group, are collaborating on pilot projects that connect Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal to HT’s network assets. The aim is to enable developers to harness and monetize the operator’s market-leading 5G network assets and capabilities through the creation of new consumer, enterprise, and industrial applications for Hrvatski Telekom customers in Croatia and other parts of Europe.

5G-era software-based networks are programmable and monetizable beyond connectivity through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which provide developers standardized access to network functions, without having to navigate the complex underlying network technologies. Removing that burden allows developers to create new value and applications faster for their customers.

The pilot work highlights the increased collaboration and progress among Nokia’s open and growing network of API ecosystem partners, such as Infobip, the global cloud communications platform, and Elmo, a leader in teledriving technology, to utilize 5G and 4G network capabilities and generate new revenue streams. 

Growing API ecosystem

Connecting Nokia and Infobip API platforms to Hrvatski Telekom’s 5G network gives developers access to a wider array of network and CPaaS APIs, allowing them to develop new use cases more easily.

Infobip’s market-leading cloud Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) provides developers with APIs for integrating real-time omnichannel communications features such as SMS, voice, and video into their applications. Nokia’s Network as Code platform offers developers APIs for using 5G network capabilities like Quality of Service on Demand.

Through Hrvatski Telekom’s 5G network, Elmo uses Infobip’s communications API and Nokia’s Quality of Service on Demand capability to ensure flawless video connections for the safe, secure, and reliable delivery of Elmo’s teledriving technology. 

Teledriving, an emerging use case, entails the remote operation of a vehicle via software, cameras, and sensors, in which a human driver controls the vehicle to a destination point in situations where safety, accessibility, or efficiency is a concern. Elmo is the first company, who has been teledriving in public roads and offered doorstep deliveries in car sharing with its road-legal technology since 2022 in Europe and US, some involving thousands of kilometers across national borders between the driver’s location and the car.

Developers using Nokia’s platform can access 5G and 4G network capabilities through Software Development Kits (SDK), which give them the technical ingredients to create new applications easily. Nokia SDKs support functions such as Network insights, Quality of Service on Demand, and Device location. 

Nokia currently has 27 partners in Europe, North and South America, and Asia that utilize its platform, including operators such as BT, DISH, Orange, Telefonica, and Telecom Argentina. Nokia’s partnering expands well beyond the operator base to include hyperscalers like Google Cloud, CPaaS platform providers, large system integrators, and vertical Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).

Boris Drilo, CTIO, at Hrvatski Telekom said: “Through collaboration on piloting projects, with Nokia and other partners, we are exploring the great opportunities that could arise from unlocking the full potential of connecting new platforms with 5G network capabilities. Ensuring high-performing networks, foundational for the launch of new use cases across industries and businesses not only Croatia but across the globe, is essential for developers in creating new game-changing applications.” 

Matija Ražem, VP of Business Development, at Infobip said: “Offering a simplified developer experience is key to making network APIs commercially attractive. The strong partnership between Nokia, Hrvatski Telekom and Elmo is yet another demonstration of how the growing ecosystem of APIs is producing tangible solutions for providers and end users. Infobip is playing a key role as a CPaaS platform by offering APIs to enrich the services available in the market.”

Enn Laansoo, Jr., Founder and CEO, at Elmo said: “Through tremendous collaboration with Nokia, Infobip, and Hrvatski Telekom, we are overcoming network challenges, such as peak time overload which can degrade video quality, to ensure the flawless connectivity required for remotely and securely operating Elmo vehicles, even during periods of high network traffic.”

Shkumbin Hamiti, Head of Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services, at Nokia said: “With Nokia’s Network as Code platform and open and growing ecosystem of API partners, Hrvatski Telekom will benefit from having more choice, flexibility, and extreme automation to create new value for its customers. As a B2B technology innovation leader, Nokia is driving the next evolution of networking to unlock new network applications with our platform.”

About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Read also, how Elmo sets new cross-border teledriving record with Nokia: 2500km between Croatia and Finland

Nokia Communications, email: Press.Services@nokia.com

or

Elmo, email: info@elmoremote.com

Drive into the future with Nokia’s Network as Code, Elisa and Elmo cars

Posted on by Elmo

Original post by Shkumbin Hamiti from Nokia blog.

In “Back to the Future,” Doc Brown famously said, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” While we haven’t quite reached that level of futuristic travel yet, a groundbreaking proof of concept (PoC) took place in late spring 2024. A car was remotely driven through the public streets of Espoo at Nokia Headquarters, Finland, and during the Imagine Metaverse expo in Tampere.

This successful PoC was the result of a collaboration between Elmo Cars, a pioneer in remote driving technology and the holder of the title for the world’s first road-legal teledrivable cars in car-sharing services since 2022, and telecommunication leaders Elisa and Nokia.

How does this remarkable technology work? Priit Haljak, co-founder and CTO of Elmo, explains: “Elmo develops teledriving technology by equipping cars with multiple cameras and a custom controller for remote driving. With two years of experience in heavy traffic worldwide, our technology is mature. We are proud to be working with global players like Nokia and Elisa.”

Navigating crowded areas presents significant challenges. Network issues and peak time overload can degrade video quality, making it difficult for remote drivers to clearly see the road, surroundings, and traffic signals, thus ensuring the highest safety.

To overcome this challenge, Elmo integrated Nokia’s Quality of Service on Demand (QoD) capability from the Network as Code platform. This capability dynamically adjusts the network to ensure connectivity for Elmo cars, guaranteeing that even during periods of high network traffic, the cars receive the high-quality video feed necessary for safe operation. Juha Saarinen, Technological Manager at Elisa, comments on Elisa’s role in today’s Proof of Concept: “For Elisa, collaboration with partners like Elmo and Nokia is fundamental, especially when it comes to proving the true value of the latest 5G technologies.”

The PoC demonstrated real-time integration and immediate improvements in video quality during network congestion. Network as Code also enables critical device status and network insights, offering valuable information about device connectivity and potential network issues.

Additionally, Nokia’s Network as Code (NaC) serves as an aggregator, allowing for the seamless management of connections through a single interface, regardless of the network provider or country.

Want to know more? Check out this video!

Experience the future of programmable networks with Nokia’s Network as Code. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

About Shkumbin Hamiti

Shkumbin is a twenty-five-year Nokia veteran based in Espoo. His distinguished career with Nokia includes  successful track record of spearheading, leading, developing and influencing some of most significant developments within the mobile industry. Shkumbin held key technology leadership positions in standardization, ecosystem development, devices, GTM partnerships, and business line management. He is named as inventor in 12 granted patents and author of several technical publications. He is currently heading Nokia’s Network Monetization Platform Business Unit helping industry to unleash the power of 5G networks.
Born in Prishtina, Kosovo, Shkumbin studied in Zagreb, Croatia and after a brief time in Bangkok, Thailand he moved to Finland where he has lived since 1996. Married with two teenage sons, he is passionate about aviation and enjoys playing chess.

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