Public transport has taken the autonomous route at Punggol in Singapore with self-driving shuttles!
Autonomous self-driving shuttles first rose in popularity during the 2010s, with major projects like the EU-funded “CityMobil2” from 2012 to 2016 and the Horizon 2020 “Avenue” project from 2018 to 2022, expanding testing in multiple European cities. In Southeast Asia, it’s Singapore that’s leading the charge for these futuristic vehicles.
The initiative was first announced in September 2025 by the Land and Transportation Authority of Singapore. The initiative is part of the “longer-term plans to introduce new modes of transport and add to our public transport network by enhancing first-mile-last-mile (FMLM) connectivity.” The autonomous self-driving shuttles were to be operated by Grab and ComfortDelGro in collaboration with WeRide, an autonomous driving technology company, with the goal to make amenities such as shopping centers and transport hubs much more accessible to the public.
Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Rides) was launched this April, and was named as a representation of the mobility that the service aims to provide: effortless and seamless. As a planning area with established travel patterns, Punggol was chosen as the beta-testing site, with its road infrastructure consistently maintained and upgraded, and the service receiving feedback from residents that helps determine the route of the shuttle.
Photo from Grab
As the name suggests, the shuttles have no drivers and rely on a pre-programmed route. There are currently three routes available, with over 1,000 people currently registered for the beta testing, taking regular rides to help fine-tune the service.
With 360-degree sensors, the autonomous shuttles have no blind spots and can detect moving objects up to 200 meters away, promising a safe journey for everyone on-board. Every ride is also supported remotely from onboarding to in-car assistance, ensuring that customers will be a priority throughout the whole ride.
People who want to try Ai.R may book via Grab, with routes including Punggol West to East, Punggol East to North, and Punggol West to North.