Grab and WeRide launch Singapore’s autonomous shuttle service in Punggol

Press Release, 22 September 2025

Grab, in partnership with autonomous vehicle technology firm WeRide, is introducing Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride), Singapore’s first consumer-facing autonomous shuttle service in a residential neighbourhood, set to begin operations in Punggol. Selected by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the pilot will run along two fixed routes using 11 WeRide vehicles, which include the five-seater GXR and eight-seater Robobus. Both vehicle models have cleared Singapore’s rigorous Milestone 1 (M1) safety assessment, confirming their capability to drive autonomously on public roads under local traffic rules.

Starting this month, Ai.R will go through a “route familiarisation” phase with Safety Operators onboard, helping the shuttles learn important details like traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, speed limits, and road layout. Users are expected to be able to ride publicly by early 2026, with the service helping to bridge first- and last-mile connections to amenities such as supermarkets, clinics, schools, transport hubs and business centres.

Safety is a key focus. All initial trips will have trained Grab driver-partners on board as Safety Operators in case manual intervention is needed. Training has been underway since August via GrabAcademy and WeRide, covering AV system operations, emergency readiness, and regulatory compliance. The vehicles will use advanced sensors (LiDAR and cameras) to “see” up to 200 metres in all directions, even in challenging weather, and are programmed to obey traffic laws—such as signalling before turns, respecting amber lights, and safe lane changes.

With Ai.R, Grab and WeRide aim to show how autonomous mobility can enhance local connectivity and support public transport, especially in neighbourhoods. The Punggol pilot could set a benchmark for how AV services may roll out more broadly in Southeast Asia in the years ahead.

News Source: Grab

Image source: Grab