Grab has announced that it will invest in autonomous driving company WeRide, with the aim of helping it launch Level 4 robotaxis and shuttles in Southeast Asia. The collaboration builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2025, where both companies agreed to study the feasibility and commercial potential of AVs in Southeast Asia, including their impact on job creation.
The investment, expected to close in the first half of 2026 subject to standard conditions, will support WeRide’s plans to expand its commercial autonomous vehicle (AV) fleet in the region. Under the partnership, the company’s AV technology will be embedded into Grab’s fleet management, vehicle matching, and routing systems.
The collaboration will also cover areas such as dispatch optimisation, vehicle maintenance protocols, safety performance evaluation, and remote monitoring. Both companies will jointly develop training programmes to help Grab driver-partners and local communities transition into new roles within the AV sector.
WeRide founder and CEO Dr. Tony Han said the company plans to deploy thousands of robotaxis in Southeast Asia through a phased rollout aligned with local regulations. He highlighted Grab’s scale and regional expertise as key to accelerating AV deployment.
Meanwhile, Grab co-founder and CEO Anthony Tan said autonomous vehicles could help address driver shortages in the region. He added that Grab intends to test WeRide’s vehicles across different urban environments to evaluate their performance, safety, and adaptability to local conditions.
Given that the deal has yet to be finalised, it looks like it will take a while before we get to see Grab and WeRide-operated robotaxis in Southeast Asia. It is also unclear whether Malaysia is included in the potential rollout.
On a somewhat related note, Chinese tech giant Baidu is reportedly looking to expand its Apollo Go robotaxi service into Southeast Asia, with Singapore and Malaysia among the target markets. The company is said to be engaging local taxi operators, fleet managers, and mobility providers as part of an asset-light strategy.
(Source: Grab [press release])
