WeRide and Grab have launched a new self-driving ride service, Ai. R, in Punggol, Singapore. People can use this service and experience Singapore’s first autonomous ride available in a residential area.
Before opening to the public, the service went through a testing phase with the community. Since January 2026, more than 1,000 people, including Punggol residents and local leaders, tried the service and shared feedback to improve it. So far, the Ai.R vehicles have safely completed 30,000 km of self-driving journeys.
“WeRide is proud to deliver Singapore’s first autonomous public ride service in the Punggol district. This achievement reflects our technological readiness and shared commitment with Grab to advance the future of urban mobility. Our GXR vehicles already operate as taxis in China, the 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,” said Dr. Kerry Xu, General Manager of Singapore at WeRide.
“Grab is delighted to be bringing the first autonomous vehicle service in a residential area to the public. 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.
As WeRide and Grab start using self-driving technology, they are also focusing on preparing people for this new future of transport.
In the beginning, trained Safety Operators will sit inside the vehicles to make sure rides are safe and smooth. So far, 14 Grab driver-partners have completed special training with WeRide and GrabAcademy and are now certified Safety Operators. More drivers are currently being trained.
WeRide and GrabAcademy have also started training Remote Operators, who learn how to monitor and manage the vehicles from a control center.
Vincent Teo, a long-time Grab driver-partner who recently transitioned to the role of a Safety Operator, is now among the first to undergo the Remote Operator programme. He shared “I am incredibly excited to progress towards Remote Operator training. When I first started this journey, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to be at the absolute forefront of such advanced technology. This is a huge milestone for me personally — and I’m proud to be part of the team bringing this future to fellow Singaporeans.”
Ridhwan Wajib, a Grab driver-partner who recently took on the role of Safety Operator, said “It’s a privilege to be one of the first in this field. This role has been such an interesting journey that I’m constantly telling my loved ones all about it. More than anything, I’m looking forward to the moment my parents and my family step on board to experience this technology with me.”
WeRide is a leading company in self-driving technology and one of the first to work in this field. It is also the first robotaxi company to be publicly listed. Its self-driving vehicles have been tested or used in more than 40 cities across 12 countries.
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