Grab Holdings and WeRide have announced the launch of Ai.R, Singapore’s inaugural autonomous vehicle (AV) service, in the Punggol area. The service will commence passenger operations in early 2026, initially featuring 11 M1-certified vehicles with safety operators on board. This development marks a significant step in Singapore’s journey towards embracing AV technology.
The global deployment of AVs is accelerating, with companies like Waymo, Tesla, Zoox, Apollo Go, and WeRide expanding their robotaxi fleets across the US, China, Hong Kong, and the Middle East, according to Maybank Research. The early adoption of AV technology is expected to bring substantial benefits to Grab, potentially saving the company approximately $71m annually and increasing its net present value by 7%.
The launch of Ai.R is part of a broader trend of AV adoption in the ASEAN region, with implications for transportation and urban mobility. As the service prepares to go live, stakeholders are keenly observing its impact on the local transport landscape and its potential to influence AV policies and practices across the region.
