Grab, the Singapore-based superapp, in partnership with WeRide, the China-based autonomous driving technology firm, have on Wednesday officially commenced public operations for the (autonomously intelligent ride (Ai.R) service in Punggol.

Starting Wednesday, the public can experience Singapore’s first autonomous passenger service ever deployed within a residential estate, the duo said in statements.

The transition to public service follows a rigorous community engagement phase.

Since January 2026, more than 1,000 passengers – including Punggol residents and community leaders – trialed the service and provided feedback that has improved the ride experience.

To date, the Ai.R fleet has safely clocked 30,000km of autonomous mileage.

“This service is about more than just deploying state-of-the-art AVs, it is about building a future where technology and the community move forward together,

“By integrating autonomous rides into the daily lives of Punggol residents and upskilling Grab’s driver-partners into new roles, we are ensuring that the benefits of innovation are shared by all. We are excited to take this significant step toward a more seamless and sustainable transport ecosystem for Singapore,” said Alejandro Osorio, Managing Director of Grab Singapore.

Dr. Kerry Xu, General Manager of Singapore at WeRide, said this achievement reflects the firm’s technological readiness and shared commitment with Grab to advance the future of urban mobility.

“Our GXR vehicles already operate as taxis in China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia, providing safe and reliable point-to-point on-demand transport to our riders,

“We look forward to bringing the same proven performance to Singapore, in close coordination with local authorities, as operations scale and mature,” he added.

As WeRide and Grab embark on the integration of AV technologies, their key focus has also been preparing the workforce for an autonomous future.

During the initial phase of public rides, Safety Operators will be onboard the AVs to help ensure a seamless journey.

To date, 14 Grab driver-partners have successfully completed specialized training with WeRide and GrabAcademy to become certified Safety Operators and another batch of Grab driver-partners are currently undergoing training and assessments.

WeRide and GrabAcademy have also commenced Remote Operator training, where participants learn how to monitor the fleet remotely from the Ai.R Operations Command Center.

The launch of Ai.R service underscores Grab and WeRide’s commitment to deploy robotaxis and autonomous shuttles in Southeast Asia, said the statement.

Moving from the first Milestone 1 (M1) assessment to full public operations in about seven months, the project’s momentum highlights the maturity of WeRide’s technology, Grab’s operational and technical capabilities, as well as the close collaboration with the government.

As active members of Singapore’s Steering Committee on Autonomous Vehicles, Grab and WeRide said they continue to work alongside the government to ensure AVs are safely integrated into the national transport system.

Grab, WeRide team up to launch autonomous vehicle service in Singapore