Southeast Asia’s superapp giant Grab is shifting gears toward a greener future by partnering with BYD, one of the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.
The two companies’ collaboration will bring up to 50,000 BYD EVs to Grab’s platform across six key markets—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This move aims to make EVs more accessible to Grab’s driver-partners while giving passengers an eco-friendly travel option. In countries like Singapore and Thailand, Grab users can also choose to toggle on the “Eco-Friendly Ride” option, hich will prioritize allocating green vehicles at no additional charge.
High upfront costs have long been a roadblock for EV adoption in Southeast Asia. Grab and BYD are addressing this by offering driver-partners and fleet partners competitive rates and financing support, alongside extended warranties on EV batteries. Drivers can either rent BYD EVs through Grab’s fleet partners or explore ownership options via Grab’s car ownership programs.
Deep technology integration to enhance efficiency and overall experience of Grab services
BYD and Grab will collaborate to facilitate deep Internet of Things (IoT) integration between the vehicles and Grab’s platform and services. Through this collaboration, Grab aims to deliver the following:
- Safer rides and a more intuitive driving experience. BYD vehicles will come equipped with the Grab driver app installed on their head units, allowing drivers to manage jobs, navigation, and chats seamlessly on a larger screen.
- Improved reliability. Real-time data from BYD’s sensors will help Grab guide drivers toward safer habits, while also improving weather and traffic predictions.
- Better navigation and routing. Hyperlocal map integration will optimize routing and improve ETA accuracy, ensuring smoother rides for passengers and less downtime for drivers.
The partnership covers a range of models including the DENZA D9, BYD ATTO3, BYD SEAL, and BYD M6 cars. Grab intends for DENZA, the premium electric vehicle brand from BYD, to become the cornerstone of its GrabExec fleet featuring the DENZA D9 luxury seven-seater electric MPVs.
