WeRide has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Southeast Asian super app Grab to introduce Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride), Singapore’s first consumer autonomous ride-hailing service. This initiative, approved by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA), will be the country’s first autonomous shuttle service to operate within residential neighborhoods, specifically in Punggol along two designated routes.
The initial rollout features 11 autonomous vehicles that will provide residents with a glimpse into the future of urban transportation. WeRide partnership with Grab represents a significant milestone in Singapore’s smart city ambitions and demonstrates the growing confidence in autonomous vehicle technology for everyday use.
Ai.R service will deploy two distinct WeRide vehicle models to serve different capacity needs. Robotaxi GXR offers seating for five passengers, while the larger Robobus can accommodate up to eight riders at once. Both vehicles have achieved a critical regulatory hurdle by passing Singapore’s stringent Milestone 1 (M1) certification process, making them the first autonomous vehicles authorized to operate in Punggol’s residential areas.
During the pilot phase, safety remains paramount. Each vehicle will have a Grab safety operator onboard—experienced Grab drivers with exceptional safety records who have undergone specialized training for autonomous operations.
Starting this week, the WeRide partnership with Grab enters a critical testing phase as the Ai.R fleet begins “route familiarization” in Punggol. During this process, vehicles will learn essential route details including traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, speed restrictions, and other critical road features.
“We see the potential of autonomous vehicles to improve connectivity within underserved neighborhoods in the near term,” said Alex Hungate, Grab’s president and chief operating officer. WeRide partnership with Grab aims to expand transport options by building “a leading AV passenger fleet with a diverse range of vehicle models.”
Commercial launch is scheduled for early 2026, when Punggol residents will have their first opportunity to experience autonomous ride-hailing services.
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