Singapore, 20 September 2025 — Two leading Chinese robotaxi firms, WeRide and Pony.ai, have announced partnerships with Singapore companies to begin autonomous shuttle services in Punggol, marking another step forward in Singapore’s embrace of driverless transport. The plans are subject to regulatory approvals and further route testing.
Under the deals, Grab will collaborate with WeRide to operate two shuttle routes in Punggol starting in early 2026, deploying five- and eight-seater autonomous shuttle vehicles once test studies on the routes are complete. Meanwhile, Pony.ai is working with ComfortDelGro to roll out its own autonomous shuttle service in the same district in the coming months, pending necessary clearances. That service is expected to cover a 12-kilometre route in Punggol.
In its announcement, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) noted that both WeRide and Pony.ai have strong international track records, operating various autonomous vehicles across cities in China, including commercial robotaxi services. Pony.ai, for example, currently operates in four major Chinese cities and is scaling its robotaxi fleet; it raised approximately US$260 million in its Nasdaq listing and is targeting a fleet size of 1,000 vehicles by year’s end.
For Singapore, these developments align with broader policy goals to integrate autonomous and low-emission systems into public transport, ease congestion, and position the city-state as a leader in smart mobility. For the companies involved, Punggol serves as a proving ground ahead of further expansion to neighbouring communities.
Source: CNA
