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Highlights
- LTA approves WeRide and Grab to expand autonomous vehicle trials in Punggol.
- Ai.R fleet testing expected to increase fourfold by year-end 2025.
- Autonomous public shuttle service set to launch for Punggol residents by early 2026.
WeRide (NASDAQ:WRD) (HKEX:0800.HK), a global autonomous driving technology company, and Grab (NASDAQ:GRAB), Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, have received approval from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to conduct broader autonomous vehicle (AV) testing in the Punggol district.
The approval allows both companies to expand their testing under the Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride) programme — a public autonomous ride service jointly operated by Grab and WeRide. Testing began in mid-October 2025, marking the first autonomous vehicle trial in Punggol.
With this development, the partners plan to increase the total number of AV test runs up to four times on existing shuttle service routes by the end of the year.
Punggol’s First Autonomous Shuttle Service
The Ai.R fleet includes 11 autonomous vehicles — ten GXRs with five passenger seats each and one Robobus with eight seats. These test runs form part of the preparation for the full public launch of Ai.R, expected to commence by early 2026.
Once operational, Ai.R will connect residents across Punggol to key transport and community nodes such as Punggol Coast MRT station, Punggol Coast Mall, bus interchanges, malls, and clinics. During all AV testing and early-stage operations, Safety Operators will remain onboard to provide real-time supervision and ensure safe performance.
“Our operations continue to perform well, and our balance sheet remains strong, positioning us to advance our growth projects and enhance shareholder value,” said management.
Rigorous Testing to Build Reliability
The AV test programme gathers and analyses extensive real-world data on road layouts, traffic patterns, and pedestrian interactions. This data helps fine-tune WeRide’s AI driving systems and ensures the vehicles adapt to local road conditions and weather challenges, such as heavy rain or strong sunlight.
Continuous calibration is also a key component. The AVs rehearse routes to improve precision driving, including smooth acceleration, controlled braking, and accurate turns. They also practise complex urban manoeuvres such as tight turns in residential streets and carparks, maintaining safe distances from obstacles.
Additionally, adjustments are made to ensure accurate and comfortable pick-up and drop-off points, allowing passengers to board and alight easily.
Enhanced Safety through Advanced Sensors
Each Ai.R vehicle is fitted with LiDARs and cameras, offering 360-degree visibility up to 200 metres. This sensor suite enables the AVs to detect and respond to objects, pedestrians, and potential hazards — even in adverse weather conditions.
Through this collaboration, Punggol is set to become Singapore’s first residential area to host an autonomous shuttle service, reflecting an important step in integrating AV technology into daily urban mobility.
