Grab Invests in WeRide to Boost Robotaxi Deployment in Southeast Asia

WeRide has partnered with Grab to speed up the deployment of Level 4 Robotaxis and shuttles in Southeast Asia. The deal supports WeRide's plan to expand its autonomous vehicle fleet and advance AI-driven mobility in the region. WeRide will integrate its technology into Grab's fleet management and routing systems, and both companies will train and upskill driver-partners and local communities. The partnership aims to optimize dispatch and routing, ensuring safety and operational efficiency. WeRide stock gained 3.21% premarket on the news.

WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), a leading global autonomous driving technology company, has secured a strategic equity investment from Grab (NASDAQ: GRAB), Southeast Asia’s leading superapp. This partnership aims to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of Level 4 Robotaxis and autonomous shuttles across the region. The investment, expected to be completed by the first half of 2026, supports WeRide’s growth strategy to expand its commercial autonomous vehicle fleet and advance AI-driven mobility in Southeast Asia.

The partnership involves integrating WeRide’s autonomous driving technology into Grab’s fleet management, vehicle matching, and routing systems. This integration will enhance operational efficiency and scalability, optimizing dispatch and routing, and maximizing vehicle uptime. Safety performance will be measured and enhanced through regional operational experience and remote monitoring and teleoperations. Additionally, both companies will collaborate on training and upskilling driver-partners and local communities, preparing them for future roles in the AV 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. 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,” said Dr. Tony Han, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WeRide.

“We want everyone in Southeast Asia to have access to reliable transportation whenever they need it. However, 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 extensively test their vehicles across diverse Southeast Asian environments. This will allow us to gain valuable insights into their real-world performance, adapt the technology to further enhance safety and reliability, and meet the region’s unique needs,” said Anthony Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Grab.

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. WeRide stock gained 3.21% premarket on the news.

[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9513196/weride-secures-strategic-equity-investment-from-grab-partners-to-deploy-robotaxis-and-autonomous-shuttles-in-southeast-asia
[2] https://cnevpost.com/2025/08/15/weride-secures-investment-from-grab/