Grab and BYD have announced a regional partnership to expand access to up to 50,000 EVs to Grab’s driver-partners across Southeast Asia, while increasing the availability of green vehicles to Grab users.
Through this partnership, Grab and BYD look to boost the electrification of the transportation sector in ASEAN by providing Grab’s fleet partners and driver-partners with access to BYD EVs ‘at the most competitive rates’, with extended warranties on the EV batteries.
Drivers will have the option of renting the EVs from Grab’s fleet partners or opt for financing support through Grab’s car ownership schemes. In countries like Singapore and Thailand, Grab users can also choose to toggle on the ‘Eco-Friendly Ride’ option, which will prioritise allocating green vehicles at no additional charge. No mention of Malaysia in the press release, so it’s not our turn yet.
The companies will collaborate on ‘deep IoT integration’ between the EVs and Grab’s platform and services. Improved safety comes from the Grab app displayed on BYD’s typically large screens, instead of the driver having to toggle back and forth on his/her smartphone. Sensor and telemetry data from the EVs will give Grab real-time insights into drivers’ driving patterns and behaviours, which the company can use to give guidance to drivers on how to improve.
Grab says that with data like wiper signals and travel speed feeding into its platform in real-time, the company will be able to infer more quickly and accurately external conditions such as weather and traffic. This data will be used in Grab’s algorithm.
Both companies aim to leverage Grab’s hyperlocal map data and services to facilitate smoother and more efficient journeys for BYD drivers. This collaboration could also enable Grab to collect valuable road and traffic data from the vehicles, potentially enhancing its mapping services.
The partnership spans Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and covers a range of models including the Denza D9, BYD Atto 3, BYD Seal and BYD M6. Grab intends for Denza, BYD’s premium brand, to be the cornerstone of its GrabExec fleet via the D9 luxury seven-seater MPV, which will be launching in Malaysia this quarter.
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