CEO of Grab Vietnam Alejandro Osorio shares Grab’s strategic plans on adoption of electric vehicles, ongoing pilot programmes for sustainable transport, and the group’s commitment to carbon neutrality.
Alejandro Osorio, CEO of Grab Vietnam
As Vietnam gradually embraces the era of EV, Grab Vietnam is diligently implementing a series of pilot programmes to thoroughly evaluate the advantages and challenges associated with utilising environmentally-friendly transport.
“Collaboration with EV manufacturers and partners to enhance the experience of our esteemed drivers is a pivotal facet of Grab’s strategic framework. Presently, Grab is engaging in pilot programmes with esteemed partners in Vietnam for GrabExpress service, conscientiously observing, evaluating, and meticulously devising comprehensive plans to get insights and find innovative ways to increase the adoption of EV in our ecosystem,” Osorio said.
However, Osorio knows that the Vietnamese market is not yet fully primed for large-scale deployment of EVs, owing to multifarious factors.
“The transition to EVs necessitates both time and conducive conditions. Grab Vietnam is currently engrossed in an experimental phase of EV adoption, an integral component of our long-term strategy. This judicious approach enables Grab to amass invaluable data and fine-tune our plans to ensure an optimal, efficient, and sustainable transition towards electric vehicles,” Osorio said.
He also expressed optimism on the burgeoning interest of domestic and international EV manufacturers in penetrating the Vietnamese market, and creating alluring collaborative prospects for Grab.
“Grab Vietnam’s overarching objective is to identify the most captivating propositions that provide optimal value and efficiency for our operations. Our collaborations are not bound by geographical limitations; we are open for partnerships with both local Vietnamese enterprises and counterparts from around the globe. For us, the paramount focus lies in fostering a joint effort to expedite the transformation from conventional vehicles to eco-friendly alternatives, enabling cost savings, reducing noise pollution, minimised environmental impact, and elevated service quality,” he said.
Additionally, Grab is determined to comprehend the exigencies and hurdles faced by their driver partners during the EV adoption process, encompassing challenges such as cost considerations, travel duration, and overall convenience. By conducting pilot programmes to assess and garner feedback from driver-partners, Grab can effectively tailor solutions and proffer bespoke support mechanisms.
Osorio remained sanguine about the progressive proliferation of EVs in Vietnam, primarily thanks to the strong focus on the EV infrastructure development and augmented investments in charging stations.
In tandem with their EV long-term strategy, Grab proactively advocates various initiatives to play its part in driving the company’s unwavering commitment towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
“Among these pioneering endeavours is the carbon offset feature on the Grab app, empowering customers with the option to make a nominal contribution to a non-governmental organisation. Subsequently, these funds are utilised to offset the carbon emissions generated from their own rides. This transformative initiative conveys profound significance, fostering individual responsibility and raising awareness of the consequential environmental impact of our actions,” Osorio added.
