Singapore – Grab, in partnership with global autonomous vehicle (AV) company WeRide, has announced the launch of Ai.R, an autonomous passenger service set to begin operation in Punggol this month.
Ai.R, short for Autonomously Intelligent Ride, is the first AV service selected by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to operate on two residential routes and marks a major milestone in the city-state’s push towards intelligent, driverless mobility.
“We see the potential of autonomous vehicles to improve connectivity within underserved neighbourhoods in the near term,” said Alex Hungate, president and chief operating officer of Grab.
The initial Ai.R fleet will include 11 fully autonomous vehicles comprising two WeRide models: the five-seater GXR and the eight-seater Robobus.
Both models have successfully completed Singapore’s stringent Milestone 1 (M1) safety assessment, certifying them for safe navigation on public roads under local traffic regulations.
This certification makes them the first AVs in Punggol authorised to operate in autonomous mode.
Every Ai.R ride will initially include a trained Grab Safety Operator on board.
These operators are experienced Grab private-hire and taxi drivers who have undergone dedicated AV training by GrabAcademy and WeRide since August.
“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,” Hungate stressed.
The Safety Operators are ready to take over manual control if required, ensuring a seamless and secure onboarding of autonomous transport.
Ai.R vehicles are equipped with 360-degree LiDAR and camera systems capable of detecting obstacles up to 200 metres away, even in adverse weather.
They follow traffic rules rigorously—signalling before turns, avoiding abrupt stops, and safely yielding or changing lanes when needed.
Starting this month, Ai.R vehicles will conduct detailed route familiarisation in Punggol, studying elements like traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and road layouts to enable safe, fully autonomous journeys.
“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.
