Grab, a ride-hailing and food delivery app operating n Southeast Asia, has signed new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four autonomous technologies companies: Autonomous A2Z, Motional, WeRide and Zelos. Through these partnerships, the app is aiming to explore both the impact and potential role that autonomous vehicles (AVs) could serve within Southeast Asia’s transportation landscape.
This initiative is, at the same time, helping Grab underscore its commitment to the safe adoption of autonomous vehicle technologies in the region (in which it serves Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar). In doing so, the company will collaborate closely with governments and driver associations on various pilot studies that will, together, aim to facilitate learning on AVs while supporting the development of key capabilities.
Through its new MoUs, Grab will ultimately assess various autonomous technologies for delivery and mobility, including shuttles, buses, cars, and robots. While varying in scope, these studies will share three key focus areas: Safety and Accident Reduction, Job Creation and Workforce Transition, and Commercial Sustainability.
The first will seek to validate the benefits of autonomous vehicles in enhancing safety, reducing road accidents, minimising human error and improving traffic management, while the second will analyse the type, scale and skillsets required for emerging jobs in the autonomous industry, and evaluate opportunities for drivers and delivery-partners to transition and upskill into these roles. Lastly, the Commercial Sustainability area of the initiative will assess the operational conditions for diverse autonomous vehicles services to improve connectivity and analyse their cost structure for long-term viability.
