Recently, it was reported that the parent company of Neta electric vehicle brand, Zhejiang Hozon New Energy Automobile, filed for bankruptcy a few weeks ago.
Neta electric cars have been plagued by controversy, such as being awarded zero stars in the ASEAN NCAP crash test, and concerns about the vehicles’ support in terms of parts and service if needed.
Grab has added all Neta vehicles, including the Neta V and Neta X, to the list of vehicles that are not allowed to be registered for use as ride-hailing service vehicles.
Grab said the decision was made after considering various aspects of the vehicle brand, as we mentioned above.
"The decision was made based on safety considerations, as Neta models received zero stars in the ASEAN NCAP crash test. While previous APAD guidelines required vehicles to achieve a minimum of three stars in the ASEAN NCAP crash test, this requirement has been removed in the latest guidelines. However, Grab has made a business decision to uphold this standard to ensure the safety of our passengers and driver-partners.
Grab remains committed to maintaining high safety standards for all vehicles used on our platform, as part of our ongoing efforts to provide a safe and reliable service for everyone.” – Grab Malaysia
For now, Neta Malaysia has not issued any statement about this incident, but regarding the issue of the parent company filing for bankruptcy, Intro Synergy Sdn Bhd said that the car service center will operate as usual.