Hesai Technology has appointed Grab as its exclusive distributor for lidar sensors in Southeast Asia, expanding the availability of the technology for robotics, autonomous mobility and mapping applications across the region.
Under the strategic partnership, Grab will manage sales, customer support and marketing for Hesai’s lidar products across Southeast Asia’s eight-country market. The companies said the agreement is intended to accelerate adoption of lidar hardware as demand rises for automation and artificial intelligence-driven systems.
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“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,” said Anthony Tan, group chief executive and co-founder of Grab.
Hesai said it will leverage Grab’s regional distribution network to reach customers in sectors including manufacturing, logistics and autonomous mobility. For Grab, the distributor role also ensures a stable supply of lidar sensors to support its own autonomous driving, delivery and mapping initiatives.
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Lidar, or light detection and ranging, uses laser pulses to measure distances and create high-resolution maps of surroundings. Hesai is one of the largest suppliers of lidar globally, with a strong presence in automotive, advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving applications.
Southeast Asia is expected to see rapid growth in AI-powered automation, particularly in manufacturing, logistics and mobility. A September 2025 report by Deloitte Southeast Asia projected a surge in demand for data centres and AI infrastructure in the region, creating conditions for lidar deployment to move from pilot projects to large-scale commercial use.
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“Lidar is a core technology that enables robots to achieve autonomous perception and safer operations,” said David Li, chief executive and co-founder of Hesai. “The Southeast Asian market has shown strong demand across manufacturing, logistics and service robots.”
The companies said the partnership is intended to support the deployment of so-called physical and embodied AI, enabling machines to operate more safely and effectively in the region’s dense and complex urban environments.