WeRide and Grab secure approval for full autonomous vehicle testing in Singapore’s Punggol district

WeRide and Grab have received approval from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority to conduct full autonomous vehicle testing in the Punggol district. This approval allows the Ai.R fleet to increase test runs up to four times by the end of 2025.

Testing began in mid-October. With this expansion, the partners are preparing Singapore’s first public autonomous shuttle service, which will operate on two dedicated routes within Punggol.

All AVs operate with Safety Operators onboard during tests to ensure real-time monitoring and passenger safety. The fleet includes ten GXRs with five seats each and one Robobus with eight seats.

Expanding autonomous vehicle operations in Punggol

The AVs collect and analyze real-world data to improve AI driving models. They study traffic flows, pedestrian behavior, and local road conditions while training to operate in different weather scenarios.

Equipped with LiDARs and cameras, the vehicles have 360-degree vision and can detect obstacles up to 200 meters. They practice precision driving, urban navigation, and accurate pick-ups and drop-offs to ensure passenger safety.

The shuttle service will connect residents to Punggol Coast MRT station, the bus interchange, malls, and clinics. Ai.R is expected to begin carrying public passengers in early 2026.

Training Safety Operators for AV deployment

GrabAcademy and WeRide are training experienced Grab driver-partners as Safety Operators. Trainees completed theory lessons and closed-circuit training and have now progressed to on-road exercises.

Azman Bin Rahmad, a trainee, said, “I’m excited to be among the first to train as an AV Safety Operator. I’ve seen firsthand how these vehicles operate and how our feedback enhances their performance. I look forward to supporting Singapore’s transport needs.”