Grab announced a slew of initiatives that will reinforce its commitment towards the reduction of carbon emissions in the region.
Users will soon be able to reduce their environmental footprint when travelling with Grab through an innovative carbon offset feature integrated within the app. Grab and Hyundai Motor Group will also launch Electric Vehicle (EV) pilot programmes to make EV ownership more affordable and accessible, while jointly developing a roadmap to accelerate EV adoption in South East Asia.
The new initiatives were unveiled in conjunction with the release of Grab's first annual Environment, Social and Governance report, which outlines the company's commitment towards socioeconomic empowerment and environmental protection, while delivering strong financial performance.
The Grab app's new carbon offsetting feature will let customers purchase 'carbon offsets' at less than $0.13 per ride.
This amount will go towards reforestation and conservation projects managed by local non-governmental organisations. The trees will be planted in GrabForGood Forests in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, which are dedicated spaces for Grab's tree-planting initiatives under the carbon offset programme.
Under the partnership between Grab and Hyundai, both companies will collaborate to increase the rate of EV adoption in South East Asia. Pilot programmes will be launched in Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam, focusing on addressing the barriers that impede EV ownership rates.
The pilot programmes will test new EV business models such as battery-as-a-service and car-as-a-service leasing arrangements, and EV financing options tailored to Grab's driver and delivery partners.
Grab and Hyundai will also conduct an in-depth feasibility study on the gaps and barriers to wider EV ownership and adoption, as well as develop a joint roadmap to make EVs a more viable option for on-demand mobility and delivery services.
