On April 1, global autonomous driving technology leader WeRide Inc. (WRD.US, 00800) and Southeast Asia's leading super-app Grab Holdings (GRAB.US) announced the official public launch of their Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride) autonomous ride-hailing service in Singapore's Punggol district. Starting immediately, the public can experience Singapore's first autonomous public transportation service within a residential community. The full public operation of the Ai.R service follows extensive community engagement and testing. Since January 2026, over 1,000 passengers, including Punggol residents and community representatives, have participated in trial rides, providing continuous feedback to optimize the service. To date, the Ai.R autonomous fleet has safely accumulated over 30,000 kilometers of driving.
Dr. Kaixin Xu, General Manager of WeRide Singapore, stated, "We are immensely proud to launch Singapore's first autonomous public transport service in Punggol. This not only demonstrates the maturity of WeRide's technology but also underscores our shared vision with Grab to shape the future of urban mobility. Currently, WeRide's Robotaxi GXR vehicles are in regular operation in China, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, consistently providing safe and reliable autonomous rides. As we scale operations in Singapore, we look forward to close collaboration with local regulators to demonstrate similarly high standards of operational performance."
Alejandro Osorio, Managing Director of Grab Singapore, commented, "We are honored to introduce the first autonomous public transport service directly into a residential neighborhood. This represents more than just the deployment of cutting-edge technology; it is a significant step towards fostering shared development between technology and the community. By integrating autonomous rides into the daily lives of Punggol residents and helping Grab's driver-partners transition to new careers, we aim to ensure technological advancements benefit a wider audience. Grab sees this as an opportunity to help build a more inclusive and sustainable transportation ecosystem for Singapore."
**Supporting Driver Transition to New Autonomous Careers** Alongside deploying the technology, WeRide and Grab are placing strong emphasis on talent transformation and capability building. During the initial phase of public operation, each autonomous vehicle is equipped with a safety operator to ensure smooth and secure journeys. To date, 14 Grab drivers have completed a joint professional training program by WeRide and GrabAcademy, earning certification as autonomous vehicle safety operators. Training and assessment for a new batch of drivers is currently underway. Furthermore, the partners have launched a remote safety operator training program, where trainees learn to monitor and manage the fleet in real-time from the Ai.R Operations Command Center.
Vincent Teo, a senior Grab driver who successfully transitioned to an autonomous safety operator and is among the first batch of remote operator trainees, said, "I am very excited about the upcoming remote operator training. When I first started this transition, I never imagined I would be working in such a frontier technology field. This is a significant milestone for me, and I am proud to help bring this future mobility option to more Singaporeans."
Ridhwan Wajib, another Grab driver who recently became a safety operator, added, "It is an honor to be one of the first participants in Singapore's autonomous mobility journey. It has been a fascinating experience, and I've been sharing stories with my friends and family. More importantly, I look forward to the day my parents and family can take a ride themselves and experience the technology firsthand."
**Public Invited to Experience the Ai.R Service** The public can register to experience the Ai.R fleet service via a dedicated booking link on the Ai.R website (rideair.ai). The service routes were designed incorporating community feedback, connecting residential areas with key amenities and transport hubs. During the public operation phase, passengers have flexible options: - Operating Hours: Weekdays (Monday to Friday), 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. - Operating Routes: Passengers can choose between two full autonomous shuttle routes. Additionally, a shorter, approximately 20-minute dedicated loop has been added to cater to short-distance travel needs. - Fare Structure: Until commercial operations begin mid-2026, passengers can experience the Ai.R service free of charge. This initiative aims to gather more passenger feedback, understand travel needs for further service optimization, and help establish reasonable criteria for subsequent promotional fare structures.
**Pioneering Future Mobility** The launch of the Ai.R service highlights the strong commitment of WeRide and Grab to the large-scale deployment of Robotaxis and other autonomous shuttle vehicles in Southeast Asia. The journey from passing the Milestone 1 (M1) assessment to achieving full public operation took approximately seven months. This efficient timeline demonstrates WeRide's mature technological foundation, Grab's deep operational expertise, and effective public-private collaboration. As members of Singapore's Autonomous Vehicle Steering Committee, WeRide and Grab will continue working alongside government agencies to safely and systematically integrate autonomous vehicles into the national public transport system.
Comments