The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has granted Grab and autonomous driving technology firm, WeRide, approval to conduct autonomous vehicle (AV) testing with the autonomously intelligent ride (Ai.R) fleet within the Punggol district.
The approval means Grab and WeRide will be stepping up their AV testing programme in Punggol. The companies, which had already begun their first AV testing in mid October this year, now plan to increase the total number of AV test runs on its shuttle service routes in Punggol by up to four times by the end of the year.
The Ai.R fleet comprises 11 AVs, which are made up of 10 GXRs that can ferry five passengers per vehicle and one Robobus, which can take up to eight passengers. The AV test runs will serve two dedicated shuttle service routes in Punggol. Ai.R is expected to take its first batch of public passengers by early 2026.
"We are excited to bring autonomous shuttle service to Punggol to boost connectivity. In the coming days, we will be working closely with the authorities as we prepare for the launch of the Ai.R service,” says Alejandro Osorio, managing director of Grab Singapore. “Safety remains our priority, as we focus on rigorous real-world testing, where our Ai.R fleet navigates the Punggol environment, adapting to actual traffic flows and pedestrian behaviours. Such tests are essential to ensure the community receives smooth, secure, and meaningful journeys.”
Shares in Nasdaq-listed Grab closed 9 US cents or 1.53% down at US$5.79 on Nov 12, or 22.15% up year to date.
