Grab invests in May Mobility as robotaxi startup expands to South-east Asia
The deal is a step towards the commercial deployment of robotaxis globally
[SINGAPORE] May Mobility said on Thursday (Oct 23) it has secured a significant equity investment from Singapore-based ridehailing firm Grab, as part of the robotaxi startup’s move to expand in South-east Asia next year.
The startup’s self-driving technology will be integrated into Grab’s fleet management, vehicle matching, and routing systems.
The deal is a step towards the commercial deployment of robotaxis globally, creating a blueprint for how self-driving taxis are managed within existing ride-hailing platforms.
May Mobility declined to provide further details on Grab’s equity stake in the startup.
This is May Mobility’s third partnership in the ride-hailing industry, following its recent tie-up with Lyft to launch self-driving cars in Atlanta, and an upcoming rollout with Uber in the US.
May Mobility, which began commercial rides earlier this year in the US without the presence of a human driver, will leverage GrabMaps – Grab’s mapping technology – to study South-east Asian roads to ensure safe deployment.
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GrabMaps uses artificial intelligence to process data from South-east Asian cities to deliver accurate hyperlocal maps that are updated in real time.
In November 2023, May Mobility secured a 10 billion yen (S$85.1 million) investment from Japan’s NTT as part of a push to advance autonomous driving. NTT also announced plans to test self-driving buses and taxis with Toyota Motor this year.
In September, Grab was selected by a Singaporean district to operate autonomous shuttle service routes in the area, for which the company has partnered with Chinese robotaxi firm WeRide, expecting deployment early next year.
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May Mobility currently uses modified Toyota Siennas for smaller rides and high-capacity Italian Tecnobus autonomous electric minibuses for higher-density routes. REUTERS
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