NEW YORK (Oct 23): Grab Holdings Ltd, Southeast Asia’s largest ride-hailing and delivery company, is backing driverless technology developer May Mobility Inc with the goal of bringing robotaxis to the region as soon as 2026.
Singapore-based Grab is investing an undisclosed amount in May Mobility as part of a multiyear deal, the companies said in a statement Thursday. May Mobility will use Grab’s mapping technology to study Southeast Asia’s road infrastructure, helping its tech adapt to local traffic conditions, including people driving on the left side of the road. May Mobility will also weave its technology into Grab’s fleet management, vehicle matching and routing systems.
Additionally, the companies will work to identify training, upskilling and transition opportunities for Grab rideshare drivers interested in roles related to autonomous vehicles, or AVs.
“Our plan is to bring May Mobility’s autonomy system to Southeast Asia as early as 2026, regulations willing,” said May Mobility chief executive officer Edwin Olson in a statement, without identifying a specific market. “We will work closely with the appropriate regulators as we prepare to launch.”
Grab isn’t the only ride-hailing platform investing in outside autonomous vehicle technology to prepare for a future where driverless rides are the norm. US counterparts Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc have similarly partnered with technology providers and fleet operators for global deployments, while positioning themselves as platforms that can efficiently inform where robotaxis should be placed to keep them busy.
The Grab partnership marks May Mobility’s third with a ride-hailing platform to help commercialise its technology internationally. The Michigan-based company, whose backers include Toyota Motor Corp, currently provides trips in the US and Japan. It launched rides with Lyft in Atlanta last month, and is planning to offer a similar service with Uber in Arlington, Texas, by the end of the year.
See also: OpenAI partner Crusoe valued at US$10b in new funding round
In August, Grab said it plans to invest in Chinese robotaxi operator WeRide Inc to offer driverless rides across Southeast Asia. The two companies intend to launch AVs on two fixed courses in Singapore by early 2026.
Uploaded by Chng Shear Lane
