The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, and GAC, a global pioneer in smart electric mobility, forged a strategic partnership, to deploy an initial 20,000 high-performance electric vehicles across Southeast Asia.
Grab and GAC will introduce three of the latter’s star models—AionY, AionES, and Aion V — across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, further enhancing the diversity of Grab’s EV fleets.
Beyond increasing the diversity and number of EVs in Grab’s fleets, this collaboration focuses on the integration of both companies’ systems to enhance the in-vehicle experience for Grab’s driver-partners. Both parties are also exploring ways to improve after-sales support for Grab’s fleets.
This new collaboration aligns with GAC’s strategy of ‘Tech-Driven GAC, Advancing Global Reach with a Full-Chain Ecosystem’ which envisions an integrated ecosystem of products, services, and operational capabilities for EVs.
Through this collaboration, the Grab driver app will be integrated into GAC’s intelligent cockpit system. This integration allows Grab’s driver-partners to view road navigation and receive information from Grab—such as guidance on high-demand areas and safety alerts for hazardous conditions—directly on GAC’s larger and easy-to-read cockpit display. By eliminating the need to toggle between devices, driver-partners can accept trips seamlessly, reduce eye strain and focus more on road safety.
Grab’s driver-partners will have the option of renting the EVs from Grab’s fleet partners or opting for financing support through Grab’s car ownership schemes. Looking ahead, Grab and GAC are committed to exploring technological innovations and further expanding EV adoption across the region.
“At Grab, we are constantly seeking innovations that empower our driver-partners. By integrating the Grab driver app directly into the GAC cockpit display, our driver-partners can receive timely and important data, such as precise navigation and safety alerts, in a more ergonomic way. This ensures a more seamless and intuitive experience that reduces our driver-partners’ cognitive load, while advancing our shared commitment to carbon neutrality and a sustainable future,” said Philipp Kandal, the chief product officer at Grab.
The selection of the three GAC EV models is based on their ability to meet the diverse demands of the Southeast Asian market. The three models are known for their safety, range and comfort:
● As a best-selling model under GAC, the Aion Y is a popular choice for electric taxis with its stylish design and practical interior, making it ideal for premium airport transfers.
● The Aion V, with its Euro NCAP five-star safety rating, combines long range with a spacious cabin, setting a global safety benchmark for pure electric SUVs.
● With its efficient range and spacious, ergonomic configuration, the Aion ES has gained trust and grown in popularity, alongside the AION Y, as an electric taxi option.
Grab is committed to being a regional ecosystem testbed that develops and scales EV solutions by improving vehicle accessibility for driver-partners, enhancing infrastructure through partnerships on charging networks, and driving consumer demand for EV rides:
Grab Philippines unveiled the GrabTaxi Electric—the nation’s first fully electric, on-demand taxi fleet officially recognised by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in June 2025. Grab and GAC signed a strategic cooperation agreement to deploy an initial 20,000 high-performance electric vehicles across Southeast Asia.