EPMB, Blueshark to collaborate with Grab

KUALA LUMPUR: EP Manufacturing Bhd’s (EPMB) wholly-owned subsidiary, EP Blueshark Sdn Bhd (EPSB) has signed a collaboration agreement with Grabcar Sdn Bhd (Grab) and Blueshark Ecosystem Sdn Bhd to form a working relationship and jointly explore business opportunities.

Under the agreement, EPSB will work with Grab and Blueshark to promote and champion green mobility and environment, social and governance (ESG) programs.

Together, these programs aim to convert 80,000 Grab driver-partners and delivery-partners from users of internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles to users of electric vehicle (EV) motorcycles.

In a statement, EPMB said two key initiatives were announced as part of the collaboration agreement. The first is the R1 Pilot Programme, where Blueshark will provide, free of charge, 50 units of R1 EV motorcycles to selected Grab delivery partners for a product trial.

The goal of this project is to gather experiential data for Blueshark’s EV motorcycles while promoting cost saving with green mobility.

The second initiative is the EV Programme. Under this initiative, EPSB will manufacture, assemble and distribute the Blueshark IOV Electric Motorcycle, a smart electric scooter model that Blueshark will offer to Grab’s driver-partners and delivery-partners at a special offer price. EPSB will provide a factory warranty for the Blueshark IOV Electric Motorcycle.

In addition, as part of the EV Programme, Blueshark will provide batteries to Grab driver-partners and delivery-partners at a promotional price of RM79 per pair, per month, for the first six months, and subsequently, at RM110 per pair, per month.

In addition, participating Grab driver-partners and delivery partners are entitled to three months of unlimited BlueSwap Pro battery swaps at BlueSwap Battery Swap Stations for RM139 per month, subject to terms and conditions.

EPMB group chief executive officer Ahmad Razlan Mohamed said collaborating with Grab gives EPMB and Blueshark access to an extensive user network belonging to one of the most visible brands in the gig economy today.

“It is also in line with one of our shared goals with Blueshark, which is to empower Malaysians with truly accessible mobility solutions.

“We are happy to work with Grab, which has been a pioneer in sustainable mobility. In May 2022, Grab committed to achieving carbon neutrality within its ecosystem by 2040 as part of its ESG goals for sustainable and inclusive growth.

“We believe this new collaboration will help accelerate Grab towards this objective, and look forward to a successful partnership,” he said.