LTA greenlights autonomous vehicle testing by WeRide, Grab in Punggol ahead of AV shuttle service’s public launch

[SINGAPORE] The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has granted approval to Grab and WeRide to conduct autonomous vehicle (AV) testing with their entire Autonomously Intelligent Ride (Ai.R) fleet in the Punggol district.

The public autonomous ride service operated by the two companies is expected to take its first batch of public passengers in Punggol by early 2026, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday (Nov 13).

“The AV test runs are critical to preparations for the launch of Ai.R, which will serve two dedicated shuttle service routes in Punggol, establishing the district as Singapore’s first residential neighbourhood with an autonomous shuttle service,” they added.

The service will connect residents to amenities such as Punggol Coast MRT station, Punggol Coast Bus Interchange, malls and clinics.

With the approval, WeRide and Grab will step up their AV testing programme in Punggol, having commenced AV testing there in mid-October.

The companies also plan to increase the total number of AV test runs on the programme’s shuttle service routes in Punggol by up to four times by the end of the year.

The Ai.R fleet comprises 11 AVs, 10 GXRs that can seat five passengers and one Robobus that seats eight.

To localise their artificial intelligence driving models, the AVs will gather and analyse real-world data – including road infrastructure, traffic flows, and the nuanced behaviours of local road users and pedestrians – during the test runs.

Grab and WeRide said the AVs are trained to handle a variety of weather conditions, such as sudden rain and intense sun glare, to ensure reliable operations.

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The AVs will also “continuously calibrate” their driving performance, for instance by rehearsing their operating routes to hone driving capabilities.

They are also trained to safely navigate common and complex scenarios, such as tight turns on narrow residential roads and in car parks, while maintaining safety clearance from walls, pedestrians and other vehicles.

The AVs are also able to execute gradual slowdowns and accurate stops at designated points to ensure that passengers can board and alight the shuttle effortlessly, Grab and WeRide said.

Safety operators will be on board at all times throughout the AV testing and initial phase of public rides, to provide real-time supervision.

The companies added that they are training an initial cohort of more than 10 Grab driver-partners for safety operator roles.