Hesai and Grab Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Lidar Deployment Across Southeast Asia

Rhea-AI Summary

Hesai and Grab (NASDAQ: GRAB) announced a strategic cooperation on Feb 4, 2026 making Grab the exclusive distributor of Hesai lidar products across Southeast Asia. The deal assigns Grab responsibility for sales, customer support and marketing to scale regional access to Hesai's lidar sensors for robotics, mapping and autonomous mobility.

The partnership aims to accelerate commercial deployment of lidar in manufacturing, logistics and mobility, leverage Grab's distribution networks, and ensure a stable supply of lidar technology for regional autonomous and embodied AI use cases.

Positive

• Exclusive distributor arrangement across Southeast Asia formalized on Feb 4, 2026
• Grab to lead sales, customer support, and marketing for Hesai lidar products regionally
• Partnership intended to accelerate large-scale lidar deployment in manufacturing, logistics and mobility

Negative

• Concentration risk from a single exclusive distributor across the entire Southeast Asia region

News Market Reaction

+0.50%

1 alert

+0.50% News Effect

On the day this news was published, HSAI gained 0.50%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Share price: $4.263 Daily move: -3.17% Trading volume: 58,682,600 shares +5 more

8 metrics

Share price $4.263 Pre-news level on 2026-02-04

Daily move -3.17% Price change over prior 24 hours

Trading volume 58,682,600 shares Today vs 20-day average 59,259,723 shares

52-week range $3.36 – $6.62 52-week low and high levels

Market cap $18,023,670,000 Equity value before this news

Proposed sale 400,000 shares Form 144 by Anthony Tan on 2026-01-12

Recent insider sales 1,400,000 shares Prior three months per 2026-01-12 Form 144

Gross proceeds $8,121,440.00 Aggregate from prior three-month sales in Form 144

Market Reality Check

Price: $23.65 Vol: Volume 58,682,600 is in l...

normal vol

$23.65 Last Close

Volume Volume 58,682,600 is in line with the 20-day average of 59,259,723 (relative volume 0.99). normal

Technical Shares trade below the 200-day moving average at 5.18, reflecting a pre-existing longer-term downtrend.

Peers on Argus

Several application software peers like SSNC (-9.87%), TYL (-8.32%), and HUBS (-...

Several application software peers like SSNC (-9.87%), TYL (-8.32%), and HUBS (-6.94%) also declined, but the momentum scanner did not flag a coordinated sector move. GRAB’s -3.17% decline occurred alongside, yet is treated as stock-specific in the scanner data.

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: Oct 23 (Positive)

Pattern 1 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Oct 23	Autonomous vehicle deal	Positive	+1.8%	Grab invested in May Mobility to launch AV services using GrabMaps integration.

Pattern Detected

Limited history is available, but the last mobility-focused partnership/investment headline coincided with a positive 24-hour price reaction.

Recent Company History

Recent news flow for Grab includes a strategic partnership and investment in May Mobility to launch autonomous vehicle services in Southeast Asia on Oct 23, 2025. That announcement highlighted integration of May Mobility’s AV technology with Grab’s mapping and fleet ecosystem and led to a 1.78% gain over 24 hours. Today’s lidar distribution partnership with Hesai fits the ongoing theme of expanding autonomous and mapping capabilities in Southeast Asia.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Grab’s role as exclusive distributor of Hesai’s lidar products in South...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Grab’s role as exclusive distributor of Hesai’s lidar products in Southeast Asia, reinforcing its focus on autonomous mobility and mapping. It follows earlier moves like the May Mobility partnership, which previously coincided with a 1.78% gain. Investors may track execution metrics such as uptake of lidar-enabled services, further AV partnerships, and any additional regulatory filings, including insider sale disclosures, to gauge how this strategy translates into long-term value.

Key Terms

lidar, advanced driver assistance system (adas), autonomous systems, light detection and ranging

4 terms

lidar technical

"scale regional access to quality lidar sensors."

Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a technology that uses laser beams to create detailed, three-dimensional maps of the environment. It works like a sophisticated eye that measures distances by bouncing light off objects, helping machines see and understand their surroundings. For investors, lidar is important because it enables advancements in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mapping, which can drive innovation and growth in related industries.

advanced driver assistance system (adas) technical

"overall automotive, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), and autonomous mobility sectors."

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is a collection of vehicle features—like cameras, radar and software—that help the driver with tasks such as braking, steering or staying in a lane, acting like a smart co‑pilot. Investors care because ADAS affects a car maker’s safety ratings, regulatory compliance, product price and repair costs, and it can create recurring revenue for suppliers and software firms as these features become standard across more vehicles.

autonomous systems technical

"for use cases across a range of industries and applications, including for robotic solutions and autonomous systems."

Autonomous systems are machines or technology that can operate and make decisions on their own, without needing constant human guidance. They use sensors, software, and rules to perform tasks independently, much like a self-driving car navigating traffic. For investors, understanding autonomous systems is important because they are transforming industries, increasing efficiency, and creating new opportunities for innovation and growth.

light detection and ranging technical

"Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses light"

Light detection and ranging is a remote sensing method that sends rapid laser pulses to measure how long light takes to bounce back, producing precise distance data that can be assembled into detailed 3D maps—think of it as a camera that measures depth like a bat uses echoes. Investors watch developments in this technology because it drives capabilities and costs in industries such as autonomous vehicles, mapping, drones, construction and agriculture, so advances or shifts in demand can materially affect company revenues and valuations.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• Grab has been appointed as Hesai's exclusive distributor in Southeast Asia.
• With this new partnership, Hesai will leverage Grab's extensive resources and distribution networks to scale regional access to quality lidar sensors.

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hesai Technology (NASDAQ: HSAI; HKEX: 2525), a global leader in lidar solutions, today announced a strategic cooperation with Grab (NASDAQ: GRAB), under which Grab will serve as the exclusive distributor of Hesai's lidar products in Southeast Asia. Through this partnership, Grab will lead the sales, customer support, and marketing of Hesai's sensors across Southeast Asia.

Through this strategic partnership, Hesai will leverage Grab's extensive resources and established distribution networks to ramp up the availability of reliable, high-quality lidar sensors so that customers across the region will be able to access lidar more quickly and easily for use cases across a range of industries and applications, including for robotic solutions and autonomous systems. Grab's position as Hesai's exclusive distributor in Southeast Asia also ensures a stable, reliable supply of lidar technology critical to its autonomous mobility and mapping work.

"By expanding access to world-class lidar technology in Southeast Asia, Grab is doing more than improving our own autonomous mobility and mapping capabilities; we are providing the essential 'eyes' that allow robotics to 'see' and navigate safely, thus ensuring that 3D intelligence can be made accessible and scaled to every industry across our region," says Anthony Tan, Group CEO and Co-founder of Grab.

David Li, CEO and Co-founder of Hesai, says, "Lidar is a core technology that enables robots to achieve autonomous perception and safer operations. The Southeast Asian market has shown strong demand across manufacturing, logistics, and service robots. Through our partnership with Grab, we will leverage our mature and reliable lidar technology with the needs of local markets, accelerating the deployment and large-scale lidar adoption for robotics applications."

Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses light to measure distance and map environments with high precision. Hesai is the global leader in lidar solutions, holding the top market share in the overall automotive, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), and autonomous mobility sectors.

Southeast Asia is projected to experience an unprecedented surge in demand for AI-powered automation, particularly in the manufacturing, mobility, and logistics sectors (1). As a result, the use of lidar is expected to move from early validation to large-scale commercial deployment across the region.

The partnership positions both companies to advance Physical and Embodied AI across Southeast Asia. Through the partnership, Grab and Hesai will facilitate access to this foundational hardware across industries in the region, empowering machines to go beyond digital intelligence and operate safely in Southeast Asia's complex urban environments.

Looking ahead, Hesai and Grab will continue to strengthen collaboration in market development and distribution to advance the deployment of advanced lidar technology across Southeast Asia.

(1) Deloitte Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia's data centres and AI infrastructure imperative: Capitalising on a once-in-a-generation opportunity, September 2025.

About Grab

Grab is a leading superapp in Southeast Asia, operating across the deliveries, mobility and digital financial services sectors. Serving over 800 cities in eight Southeast Asian countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – Grab enables millions of people everyday to order food or groceries, send packages, hail a ride or taxi, pay for online purchases or access services such as lending and insurance, all through a single app. We operate supermarkets in Malaysia under Jaya Grocer and Everrise, which enables us to bring the convenience of on-demand grocery delivery to more consumers in the country. As part of our financial services offerings, we also provide digital banking services through GXS Bank in Singapore and GXBank in Malaysia. Grab was founded in 2012 with the mission to drive Southeast Asia forward by creating economic empowerment for everyone. Grab strives to serve a triple bottom line – we aim to simultaneously deliver financial performance for our shareholders and have a positive social impact, which includes economic empowerment for millions of people in the region, while mitigating our environmental footprint.

About Hesai

Hesai Technology (Nasdaq: HSAI; HKEX: 2525) is a global leader in lidar solutions. The Company's lidar products enable a broad spectrum of applications including passenger and commercial vehicles ("ADAS"), as well as autonomous driving vehicles and robotics and other non-automotive applications such as last-mile delivery robots and AGVs ("Robotics"). Hesai seamlessly integrates its in-house manufacturing process with lidar R&D and design, enabling rapid product iteration while ensuring high performance, high quality and affordability. The Company's commercially validated solutions are backed by superior R&D capabilities across optics, mechanics, and electronics. Hesai has established offices in Shanghai, Palo Alto and Stuttgart, with customers spanning more than 40 countries.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hesai-and-grab-announce-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-lidar-deployment-across-southeast-asia-302678678.html

SOURCE Hesai Technology

FAQ

What did Hesai and Grab announce on Feb 4, 2026 regarding lidar distribution (GRAB)?

They announced that Grab will serve as Hesai's exclusive distributor in Southeast Asia. According to Hesai and Grab, Grab will handle sales, customer support and marketing to expand regional access to Hesai lidar products.

How will the Hesai–Grab partnership affect Grab's autonomous mobility and mapping capabilities (GRAB)?

The partnership is intended to strengthen Grab's autonomous mobility and mapping by ensuring a stable supply of lidar. According to Grab, access to Hesai sensors will provide the high-precision sensing needed for safer navigation and 3D intelligence in complex urban environments.

Which industries in Southeast Asia are targeted by Hesai and Grab for lidar deployment (GRAB)?

The partnership targets manufacturing, logistics, mobility and service robots for large-scale lidar adoption. According to Hesai, these sectors have shown strong demand and will move from early validation to broader commercial deployment across the region.

Will the Hesai and Grab agreement change how customers buy lidar in Southeast Asia (GRAB)?

Yes — customers in Southeast Asia will access Hesai lidar through Grab's distribution and support channels. According to the companies, this arrangement aims to make high-quality lidar more quickly and easily available across regional use cases.

Does the partnership between Hesai and Grab imply exclusive regional rights for GRAB investors to watch?

Yes — Grab is named as the exclusive distributor of Hesai lidar in Southeast Asia as of Feb 4, 2026. According to the announcement, exclusivity covers sales, customer support and marketing across the region.