Grab to roll out autonomous shuttle bus trial at one-north

[Singapore] Grab announced the launch of its first autonomous electric shuttle bus pilot on Tuesday (Jul 8) in Singapore, in collaboration with Autonomous A2Z (A2Z), a Korean full-stack autonomous vehicle technology manufacturer.

Starting from Wednesday, the self-driving shuttle will operate on a fixed 3.9 km route between Grab’s headquarters at one-north and the nearby one-north MRT station.

The autonomous shuttle will serve Grab employees for two hours daily during off-peak periods, with additional hours dedicated to further training. Grab and A2Z will closely monitor ride performance and safety outcomes before opening up more time slots.

The vehicle is equipped with A2Z’s full-stack autonomous technology and Grab’s Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and will operate with a trained safety driver onboard at all times.

It is also equipped with 11 sensors and has a 360-degree view of its surroundings, enabling it to detect and safely manoeuvre around new objects and sudden obstacles.

“Safety is Grab’s top priority, and we are committed to taking a cautious and calibrated approach to autonomous technology pilots,” said Yee Wee Tang, its regional head of operations.

“Through this initiative, we are evaluating the safety performance of autonomous technologies and exploring the potential new job opportunities this sector could create,” he added.

A2Z’s managing director Ryan Kim said the trial is the company’s first deployment in Singapore and will help test the commercial viability of autonomous shuttles in Singapore, as well as explore their potential to alleviate manpower shortages in Singapore’s public transport sector.

As part of the trial, Grab is also training driver-partners and members of the National Private Hire Vehicles Association to become part-time safety drivers, with five already enrolled in the programme.

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The pilot comes on the heels of Grab’s regional partnerships with several autonomous vehicle firms, and is part of its broader strategy to support Singapore’s autonomous vehicle ambitions.