Customers who book Grab's ride-hailing services may soon hop aboard a BYD. This comes after Grab and BYD announced a regional partnership to expand access to up to 50,000 electric vehicles (EVs) to Grab's ride-hailing partners across Southeast Asia.

Not only does this increase the availability of green vehicles to Grab users, but it also makes EVs more accessible to those who want to make the switch. High upfront costs remain a key barrier to EV adoption in the region. But through this partnership, Grab and BYD seek to boost the electrification of the transportation sector in Southeast Asia by providing Grab’s fleet partners and driver-partners with access to BYD vehicles at competitive rates.

Drivers will have the option of renting the EVs from Grab's fleet partners or opt for financing support through the company's ownership schemes. The partnership supports Grab's commitment to help driver-partners accelerate the transition to zero-emission modes of transport.

“We are excited to partner with Grab as the leading on-demand transport provider in Southeast Asia and push forward the transition to electric vehicles in the region. BYD, as the world’s leading new energy vehicle manufacturer, will best integrate our technology with Grab’s, and we look forward to working with them to deliver a unique and unparalleled experience for their drivers and users. We continue to be dedicated to our goal of building a zero-emission ecosystem and we are committed to supporting Grab’s fleet and driver-partners. Through this collaboration, we are working together with Grab to realize the vision of cooling the earth by one degree,” said Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division.

Countries included in the BYD-Grab partnership include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. BYD models that can be used through the partnership are the Denza D9, BYD ATTO3, BYD SEAL, and BYD M6.

“Sustainable growth in Southeast Asia is a priority for us and we are always looking to improve our offerings to both our driver-partners and Grab users. This collaboration enables us to drive the transition to EVs forward by lowering the financial barriers that are often associated with EVs, and in the long run deliver economic benefits to our driver-partners which may include fuel cost savings. We are confident that a reliable partner like BYD who are committed to delivering high-quality vehicles and services allows us to showcase the benefits of EVs and make green transportation an accessible option to everyone,” said Chuck Kim, Managing Director, Group Business Development, Grab.

Expect to see BYD vehicles serving as Grab cars in the Philippines in the coming months.