Grab, the dominant ride-hailing app in Southeast Asia, launched an additional fleet of 10 BYD vehicles to its services. This EV fleet is exclusive to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), where newly arrived passengers can book a ride travelling from the airport.
AN AIRPORT ADDITION
Grab Malaysia’s newest edition to its current services is a fleet of BYD M6 EVs for passengers arriving at KLIA. The official launch of the airport fleet was inaugurated by Malaysia’s transport minister, Anthony Loke last 24 June. While a specific location may be odd for a ride-hailing app to use, there’s more to this choice than meets the eye.
“The selection of KLIA as the launch location is very strategic, not only because of the high volume of passenger traffic, but also because it provides maximum exposure to domestic and international consumers about Malaysia’s efforts in strengthening green mobility,” said Loke at the ceremony.
The model choice was also a strategic decision as the M6 model has 7 seats, 3 of which can be folded to accommodate more space for luggage. In addition to the new fleet, KLIA also features a new EV Lounge in partnership with Grab Malaysia. The lounge is a premium addition to the airport, sponsored by Grab Malaysia.
To book a ride with a car from this fleet, users simply need to open the Grab app while at KLIA. The pin will automatically choose the main arrival hall at door 4, Level 3 as the pick-up location. This location is separate from other pick-up pins at Level 1, which most ride-hailing apps use.
GRAB’S EFFORTS
The ride-hailing app announced earlier this year that it would launch EV fleets in partnership with BYD across the region. While this is the first initiative to support the partnership, it is also the product of several partnerships with Grab, including; Yinson Green Technologies (YGT) and Power-Up Tech, a EV charging company through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“The latest MoU between Grab and several strategic partners, including EV providers and charging companies recently, reflects the conformity of the ndustry with the country’s aspirations,” said Loke. “The MOT (Ministry of Transport) will continue to support such efforts and we urge more industry players to step forward and play their part in the country’s decarbonisation agenda.”
“We are proud to support Malaysia’s green mobility push with the introduction of an EV-only ride option for airport travellers,” Grab Malaysia’s Director of Country Operations and Mobility said in a statement. “This launch is an important milestone in shifting on-demand transport toward low or zero-emission modes as we work towards our carbon neutrality goal by 2040.”
Loke added that the KLIA service is the first step in a nationwide shift to EVs. While Klang Valley might be the first, major cities like Johor Bahru, Penbang, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching could be next.
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