Grab Acquires Chinese AI Robotics Firm Infermove to Strengthen Last-Mile Delivery Capabilities

• Infermove to operate independently, founder Aaron Lu to continue leading innovation
• AI robotics acquisition strengthens Grab’s efficiency, reliability and scale in Southeast Asia

Singapore-based Grab Holdings Ltd. announced on 19 December the acquisition of Infermove, a Chinese AI robotics company, marking a strategic move by the ride-hailing and delivery firm to enhance its automated delivery capabilities for both first- and last-mile logistics. The acquisition strengthens Grab’s position in AI-driven robotics amid rising delivery demand and labour costs in Southeast Asia.

Founded in 2021 by Aaron Lu, Infermove specialises in autonomous driving systems for unstructured environments and mobile manipulation robots, including sidewalk delivery robots and personal mobility robots. Its proprietary “Rider Shadow System” leverages crowdsourced mobility data from scooters and wheelchairs to train robots for real-world environments, enabling human-like operational capabilities in complex last-mile scenarios.

Lu, recently named to the 2025 Forbes 100 Most Influential Chinese Elites, previously led AutoX’s autonomous driving programme, developing California’s second L4 fully driverless taxi. Under his leadership, Infermove has partnered with major Chinese delivery platforms including Meituan, Ele.me, Sam’s Club and Dada, and piloted projects in Singapore, Japan and Australia. Revenue surged from US$14,300 (RM58,000) in 2023 to US$1.4 million (RM5.8 million) in 2025, with over 1,000 outstanding orders and projected revenue exceeding US$28.6 million (RM116 million) in 2026.

[RM1 = US$0.22]

Before the acquisition, Infermove raised at least US$3.3 million and was valued at around US$33 million in 2024, with recent funding rounds indicating valuations above US$50 million.

Suthen Thomas, Grab’s CTO, announced the acquisition during the company’s December All Hands meeting, showcasing Infermove’s latest robots. He confirmed that Infermove will operate independently post-acquisition, with Lu reporting directly to him, ensuring continuity in innovation and commercialisation.

“This acquisition is a crucial step in advancing automation across Grab’s delivery and mobility network. Infermove’s robotics technology and operational progress will enhance reliability, scale and efficiency for our services,” Thomas said.

Industry analysts note that the global last-mile delivery robotics market is experiencing rapid growth, with an expected market size exceeding US$20 billion by 2027. Faced with the dual pressures of cost reduction and service expansion, AI-driven automation technology has emerged as a critical competitive differentiator for delivery platforms—a key factor that led Grab to pursue Infermove.

Grab went public through a SPAC merger in December 2021 and is currently traded on Nasdaq with a market capitalisation of approximately US$20 billion. The company has consistently invested in technological upgrades to optimise its food delivery, ride-hailing and financial services. Previously, in response to inquiries from Bloomberg, Grab stated that Infermove’s solutions will effectively complement its delivery network capabilities and further drive Infermove’s continued growth.