Grab, a top super app in Southeast Asia, announced that it will start Ai.R, its first self-driving vehicle service for customers in Singapore. This will be done in partnership with WeRide, a global company that specializes in autonomous driving technology.
Chosen by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA), Ai.R (short for Autonomously Intelligent Ride) will be the first self-driving shuttle service in a residential area. It will serve people in Punggol on two specific routes and will start with 11 vehicles. Ai.R is the only service approved to run on both routes.
The Ai.R fleet will use two types of WeRide vehicles: the five-seater GXR and the eight-seater Robobus.
Both vehicles have passed Singapore’s strict Milestone 1 (M1) test, becoming the first self-driving vehicles in Punggol to get this approval. The M1 test checks that the vehicles can safely drive on public roads on their own while following Singapore’s traffic rules.
In the first phase, every Ai.R ride will have a trained Grab Safety Operator on board, ready to take control if needed.
These Safety Operators are experienced Grab drivers with excellent safety records and high ratings. They have been training since August through programs run by GrabAcademy and WeRide.
“We see the potential of autonomous vehicles to improve connectivity within underserved neighbourhoods in the near term. Together with our AV partners like WeRide, we are building a leading AV passenger fleet with a diverse range of vehicle models to bring more transport options to the public,” said Alex Hungate, President and Chief Operating Officer of Grab.
“We are deploying our GXRs for the first time in Singapore and Southeast Asia, marking a regional milestone in urban transportation. Together with Grab, these AVs will support smarter mobility in Singapore by integrating with the public transport network and enhancing first- and last-mile connectivity for residents. Singapore’s leadership in demonstrating the potential of AVs with this initiative sets a benchmark for the region, paving the way for WeRide to extend GXR passenger services to more communities,” said Jennifer Li, CFO, and Head of International of WeRide.
Over 10 Grab drivers are being trained as self-driving vehicle safety operators through GrabAcademy and WeRide.
All Ai.R passengers are protected by Grab’s personal accident insurance, and there is a special customer support hotline for AV users.
Passengers can also track the shuttles in real time using the Grab app.
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