Grab CEO Anthony Tan Suggests Drivers Could Upscale to New Kinds of Jobs as Firm Prepares to Launch Robobuses Next Year
Grab co-founder and CEO Anthony Tan made a significant announcement during the company's quarterly earnings, covering the three months ending September 30. The ride-hailing firm plans to roll out robobuses in its home city of Singapore in early 2026, building on its substantial investment in autonomous vehicle technologies. This move is part of Grab's strategy to leverage its large investment in autonomous vehicle technologies and expand its services in the region.
According to the company's quarterly earnings report, Grab's revenue for the three months ending September 30 reached $1.3 billion, a 13% increase from the same period last year. The company's net loss, however, widened to $1.1 billion, primarily due to increased operating expenses and investments in new technologies. Despite the net loss, Grab's gross merchandise value (GMV) reached $13.4 billion, a 15% increase from the same period last year.
The launch of robobuses in Singapore is expected to have a significant impact on the region's transportation landscape. With the increasing adoption of autonomous vehicle technologies, Grab is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for driverless services. The company plans to continue building new partnerships with global remote driving and AV leaders, participate in more pilots to understand the operational conditions for different driverless services, and be part of the regulators' efforts to improve transport connectivity through driverless technologies.
Grab has been actively investing in autonomous vehicle technologies, with a significant focus on developing its robobuses. In September, the company ran a successful pilot of autonomous vehicles in partnership with WeRide, a Chinese robotaxi operator. This pilot demonstrated the potential of autonomous vehicle technologies in improving transportation efficiency and reducing costs.
The launch of robobuses in Singapore is expected to create new job opportunities in the region, particularly in areas such as data analysis, software development, and maintenance. Grab CEO Anthony Tan suggested that drivers could upscale to new kinds of jobs, such as data analysts or software developers, as the company transitions to a more autonomous transportation model. This shift is expected to have a positive impact on the region's job market, particularly in areas where there is a high demand for skilled workers.
In the long term, the launch of robobuses in Singapore is expected to have a significant impact on the region's transportation landscape. With the increasing adoption of autonomous vehicle technologies, Grab is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for driverless services. The company's investment in autonomous vehicle technologies is expected to pay off in the coming years, as the demand for driverless services continues to grow.
Overall, Grab's announcement to launch robobuses in Singapore is a significant development in the region's transportation landscape. The company's investment in autonomous vehicle technologies is expected to pay off in the coming years, as the demand for driverless services continues to grow. With its strong financial performance and strategic investments, Grab is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for driverless services in the region.
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