Taiwan Blocks Grab’s $600 Million Purchase of Foodpanda’s Taiwan Business

Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) blocked Grab’s $600 million purchase of Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda business in Taiwan on Wednesday, Oct. 21, over concerns about Grab’s ability to compete with Uber Eats.

FTC Commissioner Shin Chih-chung said equity ties, overlapping board membership and past business cooperation between Grab and Uber would weaken Grab’s incentive and ability to compete with Uber Eats. Foodpanda and Uber Eats are Taiwan’s two dominant food delivery platforms.

Uber owns 13.1% of Grab. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi left Grab’s board in July as Grab pursued the acquisition. Uber had exited Southeast Asia in 2018, but retained its stake in Grab.

Grab announced the proposed purchase in March and expected to complete it in the second half of 2026. Taiwan would have become Grab’s first market outside Southeast Asia. The decision follows Taiwan’s 2024 rejection of Uber’s attempt to buy Foodpanda’s local operations over competition concerns.

The deal had drawn concern from Taiwanese legislators and delivery drivers worried about reduced competition. On Oct. 12, Grab said it had focused on learning the Taiwanese market and framed the question for regulators as whether the island should have one delivery platform or two able to compete effectively.

Grab said it was disappointed by the ruling and could no longer pursue its plans to bring innovation to Taiwanese consumers, fair-earning opportunities to delivery riders and merchants, and enhanced service standards to the market.