China’s GAC International has partnered with Singapore-based superapp Grab to introduce as many as 20,000 electric vehicles (EV) across six Southeast Asian markets over the next two years.

The “strategic” tie-up aims to speed up EV adoption in the region and marks GAC Group’s wider global shift from simple vehicle exports to a full product, service and data ecosystem.

The collaboration is structured around large-scale fleet deployment through the Grab platform, alongside deeper integration between vehicles and mobility services.

Rather than limiting cooperation to vehicle sales or leasing, the two groups plan to explore system-level interconnection.

This includes potential integration of the Grab driver application into GAC’s intelligent cockpit system, aimed at improving order acceptance efficiency and enhancing driving safety.

The partnership also covers joint work on after-sales service and support systems.

In its statement, GAC said: “The core of this cooperation goes far beyond traditional vehicle sales or leasing. GAC aims to inject its profound technical heritage accumulated in electrification and intelligence, as well as product reliability and service experience verified in large-scale global mobility markets, into the mobility ecosystem co-built with Grab. The two parties aim to achieve system interconnection.”

In its initial phase, the programme will deploy three models under GAC’s AION brand: AION Y, AION ES and AION V.

GAC said AION Y and AION ES are designed for the electric taxi segment, while AION V is a fully electric SUV that has achieved a five-star rating under the Euro NCAP safety assessment.

The company pointed to strong momentum in Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle market as context for the collaboration.

Citing data from the International Energy Agency, it said that EV sales in the region rose by nearly 50% year on year in 2024.