FOCUS TECH – Find each week a focus on an innovative technology, app or startup.
Focus ➡ Founded in 2013, Elmo is an Estonian startup that initially provided electric car rental. Recently, however, the nugget has emerged with the deployment of a remote steering solution for its fleet, initially for the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe models. Concretely, in the application the user can order a car, and the operator, equipped with a steering wheel, pedals and a monitor with cameras, is responsible for delivering it to the indicated address. When the customer returns the vehicle, the operator takes over and takes it to the next customer.
While self-driving cars still have a long way to go before they’re actually deployed on our streets, Elmo’s technology is well on its way: In October, it passed the Estonian Transport Administration’s certification test, thus earning the official mandate to start testing its remote-controlled technology in real-world situations. The goal is to run the first 20 remote-controlled electric cars this year on the streets of Estonia.
“Our long-term vision is to become the market leader in remote-controlled vehicle technology by offering a solution whereby the shared car becomes a real alternative to the private car,” explains Enn Lansoo, Co-Founder and CEO of Elmo. We also strive to position ourselves in other areas of technology use (logistics, industry, etc.) and conquer markets outside the European Union. »
For 2023, Elmo has set itself the goal of creating a network of partners with the largest car-sharing and car rental companies in France, Germany, Switzerland and the Nordic countries in order to provide them with its technologies. In order to support its expansion, a fourth round of fundraising is planned for the first quarter of next year.
