WeRide, a self-driving technology company from China, announced last Friday that Grab, Southeast Asia’s biggest superapp, has made a strategic investment in the company.
The duo said in a statement that the investment is part of a strategic partnership between both companies to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of Level 4 Robotaxis and shuttles in Southeast Asia, and reflects a shared vision to seamlessly integrate WeRide’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) into Grab’s network to enhance service and safety levels.
Grab’s investment is expected to be completed by the first half of 2026, depending on standard approval steps and WeRide’s timeline.
The deal will help WeRide grow its self-driving vehicle fleet in Southeast Asia and improve AI-powered mobility services.
Through this partnership, Grab will be able to use WeRide’s autonomous driving solutions across its platform, making operations more efficient and easier to scale.
WeRide’s technology will be added to Grab’s systems for fleet management, driver matching, and route planning.
Both companies will also work together to train and support Grab drivers and local communities, helping them move into new career opportunities in the self-driving vehicle industry.
“WeRide’s vision for Southeast Asia is to deploy thousands of Robotaxis across the region, through a progressive rollout aligned with local regulations and societal readiness,” said Dr. Tony Han, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WeRide.
“Grab, our newest partner and investor, is a household name in Southeast Asia with unmatched regional expertise and scale in ride-hailing and digital services.”
“Together, we will combine WeRide’s advanced AV technology and operational know-how with Grab’s strengths to accelerate safe, efficient Robotaxi services, enter new markets, and reinforce our first-mover leadership in shaping the future of mobility,” he added.
Meanwhile, Anthony Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Grab, said the firm wants everyone in Southeast Asia to have access to reliable transportation whenever they need it.
However, he opined that manpower constraints remain a challenge.
“We believe AVs can complement our driver network and be deployed in cities with significant driver shortages,
“We look forward to working with WeRide to test their vehicles across diverse Southeast Asian environments extensively,” he said.
For WeRide, this partnership will provide real-world data on how its technology performs, helping improve safety, reliability, and meet the specific needs of Southeast Asia.
According to the announcement, WeRide and Grab will work closely on the technical and operational steps needed to fully connect WeRide’s technology with Grab’s fleet system.
This includes improving dispatch and routing, keeping vehicles on the road longer, tracking safety, enabling remote monitoring and control, customer support, and training programs.
By combining their platforms, the two companies aim to deploy and route self-driving cars more smoothly, giving passengers a better experience.
They will also create strong systems for vehicle maintenance, repair, and charging to ensure smooth operations.
WeRide’s experience in the region will help train AVs to handle Southeast Asia’s unique traffic, while also testing their potential to lower accidents caused by human error.
The partnership will set up clear safety processes and provide remote support during emergencies.
They will also create systems to quickly solve any issues and keep services running without interruption.
Finally, both companies will use WeRide’s expertise in supervising AVs remotely and GrabAcademy’s experience in training drivers to help Grab drivers and local communities prepare for new jobs in the self-driving industry.
This expanded partnership builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2025, where WeRide and Grab committed to exploring the technical feasibility, commercial viability, and job creation potential of AVs in the region, according to the statement.
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