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

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Grab Holdings

NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 January 2026 – Singapore-based Grab Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRAB) announced on December 19th the acquisition of Infermove, a Chinese AI robotics company, marking a significant strategic move by the Southeast Asian ride-hailing and delivery giant in the artificial intelligence robotics sector. The acquisition aims to enhance Grab’s automated delivery capabilities for both the “first mile” and “last mile” of logistics operations.

Founded in early 2021 by Aaron Lu in a Santa Clara garage in California, Infermove later established offices in Beijing and Suzhou, China, focusing on research and development (R&D) as well as manufacturing. As a startup specializing in autonomous driving systems for unstructured environments and mobile manipulation robots, its product portfolio includes sidewalk delivery robots with upper-limb manipulation capabilities and personal mobility robots.

Leveraging driving data from non-motorized vehicles such as delivery riders’ electric scooters, Infermove is training mobile robots capable of adapting to complex real-world physical environments. Through imitation learning, reinforcement learning technologies, and self-developed end-to-end algorithms, the company enables robots to exhibit human-like operational capabilities in intricate last-mile delivery scenarios. Its proprietary “Rider Shadow System” allows crowdsourced collection of robot training data using last-mile mobility devices like electric wheelchairs and riders’ electric scooters, addressing the industry-wide challenges of slow, costly data acquisition and over-reliance on simulated or demonstration data in embodied intelligence.

Founder Aaron Lu was recently named to the “2025 Forbes 100 Most Influential Chinese Elites” list, reflecting international recognition of his technological innovation and business leadership. Some earlier reports mentioned Lu holds multiple advanced degrees in biomedical engineering, economics, and computer science from Harvard and other top U.S. universities.

Prior to founding Infermove, Lu led the fully autonomous driving program at Silicon Valley-based AutoX (now renamed to Tesor Auto), overseeing the R&D, validation, and regulatory approval of the company’s first fully autonomous robotaxi product. In July 2020, he led the team to successfully develop the second ever L4-level autonomous taxi approved for fully driverless operation on public roads in California, U.S., second only to Alphabet’s Waymo.

Public records show that prior to the acquisition, Infermove had secured at least 3.3 million in funding from investors including Miracle Plus,the former China division of Y Combinator.

In 2024, the company signed an investment agreement with a subsidiary of listed firm Tieda Technology, valuing the company at approximately 33 million at the time. Multiple investors focusing on China’s embodied intelligence sector indicated that before the acquisition, Infermove was conducting a new round of financing with a valuation of no less than $50 million.

Despite its relatively short operational history, Infermove has achieved rapid progress in commercialization. Currently, its Carri series robots have partnered with major delivery platforms in China, including Meituan, Ele.me of Alibaba, Sam’s Club, and Dada of JD.com. Simultaneously, the company has established pilot projects with local corporate clients in overseas markets such as Singapore, Japan, and Australia. According to financial and outstanding order information disclosed by listed-Tieda Technology during its investment in Infermove, the company’s revenue surged from only RMB 100,000 in 2023 to RMB 10 million in 2025, achieving a 100-fold growth in three years. With over 1,000 outstanding orders pending delivery, Infermove expects its revenue to exceed RMB 200 million in 2026.

A source from Grab’s Beijing office revealed that Suthen Thomas, Grab’s CTO, announced the acquisition of Infermove to the entire company during the global All Hands meeting in December. During the meeting, Suthen showcased several of Infermove’s latest robot products, stating that the company’s technology and commercialization progress in embodied delivery robots were impressive. He added that following the completion of the acquisition, Infermove will continue to operate as an independent entity under its original team, with Lu, as the key founder, reporting directly to him.

This acquisition represents a crucial step in Grab’s efforts to advance automation within its expanding delivery and mobility network in Southeast Asia and beyond. Amid rising labor costs and sustained growth in on-demand delivery demand, robotics technology and artificial intelligence have become key drivers for enhancing service reliability and maintaining profit margins.

Industry analysts note that the global last-mile delivery robotics market is experiencing rapid growth, with an expected market size exceeding $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.

As a leading mobility and delivery provider in Southeast Asia, Grab went public through a SPAC merger in December 2021 and is currently traded on the Nasdaq with a market capitalization of approximately $20 billion. The company has consistently invested in technological upgrades to optimize 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 the investment will further drive Infermove’s continued growth.

Energy

Venezuela Energy Week Confirms 19 August Date for Houston Industry Showcase

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Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August, convening U.S. energy leaders ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The organizers of Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) have confirmed that the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August 2026 at The Post Oak Hotel. Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the event will bring together U.S. energy companies, investors and policymakers to explore commercial opportunities ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas in February.

The showcase will feature Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao as a keynote speaker, providing an update on Venezuela’s energy priorities, investment agenda and opportunities for international partnership. Her participation underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening engagement with global industry as it seeks to expand production and unlock new upstream investment.

Bringing together exploration and production companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers, engineering firms, technology companies and financial institutions, the Houston Industry Showcase will examine opportunities across exploration, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and field development.

As Venezuela works to increase oil and gas production, demand is expected to grow for the technical expertise of U.S. service providers in drilling, well intervention, completion services, production optimization, artificial lift, digital oilfield technologies and infrastructure rehabilitation. Houston-based industry leaders – including SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and a broad network of EPC contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized service companies – are well positioned to support the modernization of mature fields, improve operational efficiency and deliver the technologies and services needed for future upstream projects.

The Houston event follows a successful Industry Showcase in London, which brought together international investors, operators and energy service companies to explore Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape. Building on that momentum, the Houston edition will deepen engagement with the U.S. energy industry and strengthen commercial dialogue ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027.

Venezuela Energy Week – the country’s largest energy investment platform to date – has been confirmed for 22–25 February 2027 in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 19, visit https://apo-opa.co/4g0TncR. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery
Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hkvteE).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Secures New Patent for Smart Stabilization System from Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

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IsDBI

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) is pleased to announce that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has granted a new patent for its innovative Smart Stabilization System.

 

The patent was granted on 10 July 2026 under Singapore Patent No. 10202250873B for the invention titled “A Computer Network Stabilization System and Method.” The patent application was filed on 1 September 2022 and was formally granted following a comprehensive review process.

This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and advanced simulation models, the system is designed to anticipate supply and demand imbalances and implement programmable stabilization measures before they escalate into market disruptions.

Unlike traditional stabilization mechanisms that rely on capital reserves, buffer funds, or external interventions, the Smart Stabilization System introduces a next-generation framework for achieving autonomous market stabilization through proactive and programmed stabilization mechanisms. By incorporating distributed ledger technology and cryptographic trust mechanisms, the platform enhances transparency, trust, and operational resilience for digital asset and commodity markets.

The successful patent grant reflects IsDBI’s growing contribution to technological innovation and its commitment to developing knowledge-based solutions that address contemporary economic and development challenges.

Since filing the patent application back in 2022, the Institute has continued to advance the Smart Stabilization System through ongoing development and testing, aimed to expand its practical applications and support future capitalization opportunities. These advancements have positioned the system as a potentially transformative solution for enhancing stability and resilience in increasingly digital and interconnected economies.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said, “The grant of this patent by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore further strengthens the Institute’s position as a leader in developing innovative knowledge-based solutions that leverage modern technologies to address complex development challenges. This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

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Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

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