From EV application to mobility ecosystems: GAC partners with Grab in Southeast Asia

On January 7, 2026, GAC International and Grab, Southeast Asia's leading super app, jointly announced a deep strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the region's shift toward low-carbon mobility.

Under the agreement, the two sides plan to deploy 20,000 high-performance electric vehicles from GAC across six Southeast Asian countries over the next two years.

Photo source: GAC International

Beyond market expansion, the partnership marks a pivotal step in GAC's transition from a conventional vehicle exporter to an integrated overseas strategy that combines products, services and data-driven ecosystems.

Cooperation focuses on diverse models tailored to local need

The initial phase of the collaboration will feature a diversified lineup drawn from GAC AION, including the AION Y, AION S and AION V.

Photo source: GAC International

Each model has been selected to match distinct local use cases. The AION Y has already gained traction in Thailand's electric taxi segment, appealing with its contemporary design and versatile interior space. The AION V, which has earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, combines long driving range with a spacious cabin, while the AION S emphasizes efficiency and ride comfort and has seen steady growth in regional mobility services.

Photo source: GAC International

GAC said the models leverage its in-house R&D capabilities, intelligent manufacturing and global supply chain to meet Southeast Asia's expectations for EV performance and reliability.

Photo source: GAC International

Market growth and tech integration underpin partnership

The partnership is underpinned by the rapid expansion of Southeast Asia's EV market. Data from the International Energy Agency show that electric vehicle sales in the region rose by nearly 50% year on year in 2024, reflecting strong growth potential and increasingly supportive policy environments.

Against this backdrop, GAC and Grab intend to go beyond vehicle delivery. Plans include technical integration, such as embedding Grab's driver app into GAC's intelligent cockpit systems to improve dispatch efficiency and driving safety, as well as joint exploration of new after-sales service models to enhance the end-to-end user experience.

GAC's global footprint supports regional cooperation

GAC International's broader global footprint provides a solid foundation for the Southeast Asia partnership. In 2025, the company's overseas sales exceeded 130,000 vehicles, up 45% year on year, with its business reaching 86 countries and regions and adding 281 new sales and service outlets.

During the same period, GAC International introduced five new models internationally and continued to advance localized production strategies to better align with local market conditions. This accumulated experience in products, services and networks underpins the collaboration with Grab.

Partnership drives full-cycle expansion and low-carbon goals

Strategically, the agreement reflects GAC's broader vision of combining technological capability with ecosystem-based international expansion.

By partnering with a locally embedded platform like Grab, GAC can tap into an extensive user base to boost brand visibility while collecting localized operational data to refine future products and services. The large-scale deployment of EVs is also expected to contribute to lower transport-related emissions in the region, aligning with global carbon neutrality goals.

Conclusion

Overall, the GAC–Grab partnership signals a broader shift in how Chinese automakers approach overseas markets, moving from straightforward vehicle exports toward deeper integration with local ecosystems. As EV adoption accelerates and digital connectivity becomes increasingly central to mobility services, such collaborations may offer a more sustainable and locally attuned blueprint for global expansion.