Grab is investing in US-based robotaxi startup May Mobility, in efforts to step up its investment in autonomous vehicle technology. According to Reuters, the move also comes as part of a broader strategy to integrate self-driving systems into its ride-hailing operations across Southeast Asia.
The company plans to incorporate May Mobility’s autonomous driving technology into its existing fleet management, vehicle matching, and routing platforms. As part of the partnership, May Mobility will use GrabMaps, Grab’s proprietary mapping platform, to study and adapt to the complexities of Southeast Asian road networks.
While neither company disclosed the size of Grab’s equity stake, the collaboration signals the e-hailing giant’s intent to take a more active role in shaping autonomous transport in Southeast Asia. In September, Grab was also selected to operate upcoming autonomous shuttle services in a Singaporean district through a separate partnership with Chinese robotaxi firm WeRide, with deployment expected early next year.
May Mobility, meanwhile, has already begun operating fully driverless commercial rides in the United States using modified Toyota Siennas and larger Tecnobus electric minibuses. Its tie-up with Grab follows previous partnerships with Uber and another US-based ride-hailing platform, as the company moves to scale its robotaxi model globally.
For now, it remains unclear when May Mobility will debut its services in the region, let alone in Malaysia. As with WeRide, it is likely that Grab will integrate the firm’s robotaxis into its platform once operations begin.
(Source: Reuters)
