First remotely controlled cars drive in port of Antwerp

Ush and Poppy Mobility, two daughter companies of D’Ieteren Automotive, introduce a new mobility solution in collaboration with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges: remote-controlled rental cars that navigate through the harbor premises.

Boluda, a maritime service provider in the Antwerp port, uses the two cars currently available. Specialist Vay provides advanced technology. Boluda employees often work in secluded, distant areas of the port and can now ask for a Poppy rental car that will drive to them without a driver behind the wheel.

They can use the car to reach their destination, and after they use it, the remote driver will take over again and drive the car to a new appointment in the port. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is an ideal partner for launching such a project as it offers dynamic and complex logistic surroundings.

Phased implementation

Ush and Poppy Mobility work step by step to introduce the technology securely and justifiedly. There will be an initial testing phase, and after a few months, other companies in the port will be invited to participate.

“The advantage of our system is that it is much more affordable than an autonomous car service like, for example, Waymo is offering already in the U.S.,”  says Vay manager Justin Pratt in De Tijd.  “The adaptations to both Kias cost 5,000 to 10,000 euros; a fully-equipped Waymo autonomous car will cost 100,000 euros extra.”

At the moment, the remote driver, sitting behind his desk in Berlin, is still made redundant by a real driver behind the wheel because Belgian and Flemish legislation doesn’t allow ‘driverless’ cars yet. This makes the offer now more expensive than a genuine limousine service. Poppy and Ush absorb the extra cost and hope authorities will soon decide that the system can be used within the port premises.

“There hasn’t been one incident yet with Vay,” says Poppy marketing director Pierre de Schaetzen. “I’m confident that we can persuade the authorities soon to adapt their regulations. For us, it’s an interesting investment: when shared cars come to your doorstep, more people tend to use them, and our business becomes more efficient and competitive.”

Both Kias available now are equipped with four extra cameras, two additional computers, and four modems to link them to the four mobile telephone providers acutally working in the country.

Stakeholder reactions

“With this launch, the port confirms its role as an innovator,” says a proud Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO at Port of Antwerp-Bruges. “We already had autonomous boats and drones, and these remotely controlled vehicles follow the same path. Our position as an innovation hub is thereby strengthened.”

“Representing 5% of Belgium’s GNP and 160,000 direct and indirect jobs, Port of Antwerp-Bruges has to innovate continuously to guarantee efficiency, reliability, and safety,” adds Johan Klaps, Antwerp Alderman for Economy and the Port.

“The introduction of this technology is deliberately step-by-step,” concludes Max Levandovski, CEO at Ush. From 2026 onward, we want to start a complete commercial roll-out here in Antwerp. That’s why we are in permanent contact with the responsible authorities to create a new jurisdictional framework.”