Grab, GAC team up on EVs for Southeast Asia
EXECUTIVES from Grab and GAC exchange a scale model electric vehicle as a symbol of their collaboration on EV deployment and in-vehicle system integration. Shown are (left): Philipp Kandal, chief product officer at Grab, was presented a car model from Xia Xianqing, president of GAC Group.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GRAB
Grab is bringing in a new electric vehicle partner as it looks to expand and refine its ride-hailing fleets across Southeast Asia.
The regional superapp has signed a partnership with GAC that will see an initial rollout of 20,000 electric vehicles in key markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.
The vehicles will be used by Grab driver-partners and are meant to suit the long hours and heavy use that come with daily ride-hailing work.
Beyond adding more EVs to the road, both companies said the tie-up is about how drivers interact with the car itself. Grab and GAC plan to link their systems so the Grab driver app appears directly on the vehicle’s built-in display.
Navigation, demand alerts, and safety notices can be viewed on a larger screen instead of a phone mounted on the dashboard.
For drivers, that means fewer glances at smaller devices and less switching between apps. Grab said the setup allows trips to be accepted and managed more smoothly, with more attention staying on the road.
The first batch of vehicles will include three GAC electric models already used in taxi and fleet work in other markets.
These cars were chosen for features that suit ride-hailing, such as wide-opening doors, generous rear legroom, and cabins designed for repeated daily use.
The models are set to appear gradually across the region as fleet operators bring them online.
GAC said the partnership fits its wider push to grow outside China by pairing vehicles with services and digital systems.
Working with Grab gives the automaker a chance to test how its cars perform in real Southeast Asian conditions, from dense city traffic to long airport runs.
Grab driver-partners will be able to access the vehicles through fleet rentals or financing programs offered within the Grab platform. These options are meant to lower the barrier for drivers who want to switch to electric vehicles but are not ready to purchase one outright.
Philipp Kandal, Grab’s chief product officer, said the cockpit integration was designed around everyday driving realities.
He said showing navigation and alerts on a larger screen helps reduce strain during long shifts and makes the driving experience more straightforward.
The partnership comes as electric vehicle use continues to grow across Southeast Asia. Industry data shows EV sales in the region jumped sharply last year, driven by falling costs, wider model choices, and government support.
Ride-hailing fleets have become one of the fastest ways to introduce EVs to daily urban transport.
Grab has already been pushing EV adoption across its markets. In Singapore and Thailand, users can choose an eco-friendly ride option that prioritizes electric or hybrid vehicles.
In Vietnam, Grab has partnered with charging providers to offer discounted rates to driver-partners. Thailand has also seen the rollout of a lease-to-own model that allows drivers to pay for EVs through their earnings.
In the Philippines, Grab introduced GrabTaxi Electric in 2025, marking the country’s first fully electric, on-demand taxi fleet approved by regulators.
Indonesia, meanwhile, now has more than 11,000 EVs operating within Grab’s network, mainly on high-traffic routes.
With GAC joining its list of vehicle partners, Grab is adding another layer to its EV plans, focusing less on novelty and more on how these cars fit into the daily grind of ride-hailing across Southeast Asia.