Toyota Pumps $1b in Grab in Auto Industry’s Biggest Ride-Hailing Bet
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Toyota Motor has agreed to buy a $1 billion stake in Grab in the biggest investment by a carmaker into a ride-hailing firm, at a time when traditional automakers are racing to team up with disruptive tech companies.
The value of six-year-old Grab will be just over $10 billion after the investment, said a person familiar with the matter.
The deal comes as the auto industry faces a spike in the need for technological prowess with the advent of features such as autonomous driving, while app makers offer passengers the option to forgo car purchases by connecting them with drivers.
Some automakers have responded by partnering with makers of ride-hailing apps, which dominate the fast-growing field of mobility services, in anticipation of a future of reduced car ownership.
General Motors has invested in US ride services firm Lyft, whose rival Uber Technologies is also backed by Toyota. Meanwhile Japan’s SoftBank Group – also an investor in Grab and Uber – last month said it would invest $2.25 billion in GM’s autonomous vehicle unit Cruise.
Toyota’s trading arm invested an undisclosed sum in Grab last year. This time, the automaker is lead investor in a financing round launched after Grab acquired Uber’s operations in Southeast Asia, a region of 640 million people.
Grab called it the largest-ever investment globally by an automotive manufacturer in the ride-hailing sector.
The Singapore-headquartered firm did not disclose how much fresh capital it aims to raise. It raised $2.5 billion in its last round in July, resulting in a reported value of $6 billion.
“We will work with partners like Toyota to continue to transform transportation in Southeast Asia,”
Grab said it logs six million rides a day via apps downloaded onto over 100 million mobile devices. The firm also offers online to offline services, such as food delivery and digital payments, which it aims to expand deeper into the region using funds from its latest financing round.
“We will work with partners like Toyota to continue to transform transportation in Southeast Asia,” Grab said in an email. “We want to be the one-stop mobility platform for users.”
It also said Toyota will appoint an executive to Grab’s board of directors while a dedicated Toyota team member will be seconded to Grab as an executive officer.
Toyota said it aimed to offer financing, insurance and maintenance services to drivers based on data collected through recorder devices already installed in some Grab vehicles.
“Going forward, together with Grab, we will develop services that are more attractive, safe and secure for our customers in Southeast Asia,” Toyota executive Shigeki Tomoyama said in a statement.
The data could also help Toyota develop its own next-generation mobility services, including a self-driving electric vehicle aimed at companies for use in tasks such as ride hailing, package delivery and mobile shops.
Other Grab investors include Japan’s Honda Motor, South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing. Uber acquired 27.5 percent of Grab in exchange for the US firm’s Southeast Asian business earlier this year.
Grab’s main rival is now Indonesia’s Go-Jek, which last month said it would invest $500 million to begin expanding abroad.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary reason for Toyota’s significant investment in Grab?
What is the primary reason for Toyota’s significant investment in Grab?
Toyota is investing as traditional automakers seek to partner with disruptive tech companies amidst the rise of new features like autonomous driving. They anticipate a future with reduced personal car ownership and increased mobility services.
Q.How will Toyota benefit directly from data collected by Grab?
How will Toyota benefit directly from data collected by Grab?
Toyota aims to offer financing, insurance, and maintenance services to Grab drivers using this data. The data will also help Toyota develop its own next-generation mobility services, including self-driving electric vehicles.
Q.What is Grab’s strategy for using the new capital raised in this financing round?
What is Grab’s strategy for using the new capital raised in this financing round?
Grab plans to expand its online-to-offline services, such as food delivery and digital payments, deeper into the Southeast Asian region. It also aims to be a one-stop mobility platform for users.
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