Toyota and Grab enhance partnership to further MaaS developments

Toyota Motor Corporation has announced an agreement with Grab to expand their collaboration in Southeast Asia, whilst investing $1 billion into Grab.

Strengthening their existing partnership is expected to drive further MaaS developments across the region.

Furthermore, to accelerate decision-making, one Toyota executive will be appointed to Grab’s Board of Directors and a Toyota team member will be seconded to Grab as an executive officer, with Toyota considering more personnel exchanges in the future.

Since August 2017, both have been developing connected services for Grab, utilising driving data collected by Toyota’s TransLog data-transmission driving recorder. The recorder, developed for corporate fleets, has so far been installed in 100 of Grab’s rental cars. The data collected is stored on Toyota’s proprietary mobility services platform (MSPF), which serves as a form of information infrastructure for connected vehicles.

Both companies have already begun collaboration in the field of connected vehicles by providing driving-data-based automotive insurance for Grab’s rental fleet in Singapore through local insurance companies.

The expansion is aimed at achieving connectivity for Grab’s rental car fleet across Southeast Asia, alongside deploying various connected services throughout the region. In addition, collaborations in driving-data-based automotive insurance, financial services for Grab drivers and maintenance services will be contemplated under the new partnership.

Through this new agreement, Toyota and Grab plan to shift into full-scale implementation of services they have been developing. The two companies will look for future collaborations aimed to achieve more-efficient ride-hailing businesses and the development of future mobility service solutions and MaaS vehicles.

Shigeki Tomoyama, Toyota’s Executive Vice President and President of Toyota’s in-house Connected Company, said: “I am delighted that we are strengthening our collaboration, which utilises Toyota’s connected technologies, with Grab. Going forward with Grab we will develop services that are more attractive, safe and secure for our customers in Southeast Asia.”

Anthony Tan, co-Founder and CEO of Grab, commented: “We are thrilled to have Toyota on-board as a long-term, strategic partner of Grab’s. This strong partnership will enable us to become the one-stop mobility platform in Southeast Asia. We look forward to executing the same vision of a future that will provide safer and more affordable rides, more liveable cities and millions of new micro businesses in the digital revolution.”