Grab, the Southeast Asian ride-hailing and delivery powerhouse, has quietly made a bold move into the future of logistics. The company has acquired Infermove, a cutting-edge AI robotics firm, signaling a major commitment to automating its delivery network.
Infermove’s story began in a humble Santa Clara garage in 2021, fueled by the vision of founder Aaron Lu. The company quickly expanded, establishing a strong presence in Beijing and Suzhou, China, dedicated to both research and the practical manufacturing of advanced robots.
What sets Infermove apart is its focus on navigating the real world – the messy, unpredictable environments where deliveries actually happen. They aren’t building robots for sterile warehouses, but for crowded sidewalks and complex urban landscapes.
Infermove’s robots learn by observing. Utilizing data gathered from delivery riders’ electric scooters, they’re trained to mimic human operational skills, mastering the intricacies of last-mile delivery through sophisticated imitation and reinforcement learning.
The company developed a unique “Rider Shadow System” to accelerate this learning process. This innovative approach crowdsources training data using everyday mobility devices, bypassing the slow and expensive traditional methods of data acquisition.
Aaron Lu’s accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed. Recently recognized on the “2025 Forbes 100 Most Influential Chinese Elites” list, Lu brings a formidable background to the table, with advanced degrees spanning biomedical engineering, economics, and computer science from leading universities.
Before founding Infermove, Lu played a pivotal role in the autonomous driving program at AutoX, leading the team that developed one of the first fully autonomous robotaxis approved for driverless operation on California’s public roads – a feat second only to Waymo.
Despite its short history, Infermove has already achieved significant commercial traction. Its Carri series robots are currently deployed in partnership with major delivery platforms in China, including Meituan, Ele.me, Sam’s Club, and Dada.
The company’s reach extends beyond China, with pilot projects already underway with corporate clients in Singapore, Japan, and Australia, demonstrating the global appeal of its technology.
The acquisition was announced internally by Grab’s Chief Technology Officer, Suthen Thomas, during a company-wide meeting. Thomas highlighted Infermove’s impressive technology and rapid commercialization progress in the embodied delivery robot space.
Importantly, Infermove will continue to operate as an independent entity under its existing team, with Aaron Lu reporting directly to Thomas. This structure suggests Grab intends to leverage Infermove’s expertise while fostering continued innovation.
This strategic acquisition is a clear indication of Grab’s ambition to revolutionize its delivery and mobility network. As labor costs rise and demand for on-demand services continues to surge, automation and artificial intelligence are becoming essential for maintaining efficiency and profitability.
